Company Handed Over Keys To 38 Airplanes In 2011

In its fourth-best year for deliveries since 1990, Daher-Socata announced Monday that 38 TBM 850s were delivered in 2011, bringing to 260 the total number of its latest very fast turboprop aircraft received by customers since being introduced in 2006. The company's 600th aircraft rolled out of the factory last October. As of January 1, 2012, the combined fleet’s flight time reached a total of 909,921 flight hours.

“We attained our delivery goals in 2011 despite the very difficult economic environment worldwide, resulting in the TBM 850 gaining market share,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice-president of Daher-Socata Airplane Division. “This achievement was due to the loyalty of our customers, our team spirit, and our TBM850’s continued value for a full range of operators.”

The majority of TBM 850s purchased in 2011 were acquired by U.S. customers (84 percent). Latin America was in second position with 10 percent, followed by Asia-Pacific and Europe which represented five percent of the 2011 sales – down from 13 percent in 2010. Included in Daher-Socata’s 2011 activity were the company’s initial deliveries of new TBM 850s in Singapore, and the first multi-mission TBMMMA version provided to Argentina – demonstrating the aircraft’s expanding market penetration.

Chabbert said preparations are now underway for introduction of the TBM 850 Model Year 2012, which will offer a host of benefits – including an Exclusive Maintenance Program that lowers scheduled maintenance costs for five years or 1,000 hours.

FMI: www.tbm850.com