TBM 850 Takes VLJ Market Head On

Chairman and CEO of EADS Socata Stéphane Mayer, held a press conference in Paris Monday to brief the media on his company's status. He says the company experienced significant growth in both earnings and orders last year.

"In 2006 we recorded a 21% growth of our revenue, and a growing backlog of 562 M€ ($ 725 million) which leaves us with good perspectives for 2007 and after," said Mayer, "This growth is the result of the commercial success of our Very Fast Turboprop TBM 850, a sustained activity in Aerostructure programs, and significant customer support contracts. EADS Socata has achieved a 228 millions euros ($294 million) turnover."

Socata announced the TBM 850 in December 2005, and has since positioned the plane to compete with the coming wave of very light jets. The company claims it has met expectations for 2006, with 42 deliveries -- that's nine more than the 31 TBM 700 deliveries in 2005. Socata says the TBM 850 offers its pilots and operators what they expected: a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at flight level 260, combining the cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and useful load of a proven, world-class, single-engine turboprop.

Mayer says Socata enjoyed similar success with its aerocomposites and customer service branches. Owning contracts with Airbus, Dassault, Embraer and Eurocopter, Socata is growing a reputation as a quality supplier of composite components for new aircraft assembly and the retrofit market. The company is in the running for sub-contractor work on Airbus' upcoming A350XWB.

Socata also holds service contracts with several major European organizations including full operational maintenance of the TBM military fleet and the fleet of the French military pilot training school. The company also earned a 10-year $224 million contract in partnership with EADS Defense for engineering, maintenance and logistics support.

Mayer says Socata's has set a target of 50 TBM 850 sales this year. He says the goal is within reach considering the company currently enjoys a backlog of 40 aircraft.

EADS Socata says it's manufactured more than 17,000 aircraft since its creation as Morane-Saulnier in 1911.

FMI: www.socataeads.com