Aims To Match Buyers To Airplanes 'F.A.S.T!'

A new program that opens up co-ownership opportunities for the TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft was launched Monday by Daher-Socata, using the manufacturer's international distributor and support network for worldwide coverage. Advantages of the F.A.S.T. (Fly and Share Your TBM) program for operators include low cost of ownership, better utilization of capital assets and professional management.

Daher-Socata says F.A.S.T. is ideally suited for two shareholders on a one-third/two-thirds co-ownership basis, but the program could accommodate up to three shareholders per aircraft. A minimum 100 days of exclusive use is provided per year on an unlimited flight hour basis, which differs from traditional fractional programs requiring the purchase of annual flight hours that are either used or lost.

"F.A.S.T. provides an unmatched opportunity for customers to fully benefit from the world's fastest, highest-flying single-engine turboprop aircraft at a fraction of the purchase price," said Nicolas Chabbert, the President of Socata North America. "It is perfectly suited to today's business and economic environment -- offering travel at jet speeds and turboprop economy with an aircraft that continues to be a worldwide success story."

Under F.A.S.T., all maintenance work is performed in factory-approved and FAA-certified repair stations. Also included are on-line flight scheduling, maintenance services, aircraft tracking, subscriptions to charts and databases, professional flight service and a single-contact source for assistance.

Perhaps the greatest advantage to F.A.S.T. -- particularly in the current economic environment -- is that the configuration ensures predictable costs over the duration of the program. In addition to the basic features, additional services available include flight training, hangar capacity (depending upon the location), car rental, concierge services and insurance.

FMI: www.daher.com, www.tbm850.com