EADS Socata and Pratt & Whitney Canada are pleased to announce an increase of the basic Time Between Overhaul (TBO) for the PT6A-64 installed on the high performance turboprop single engine TBM 700., from 3,000 hours to 3,500 hours with a corresponding increase in the Hot Section Inspection (HSI) interval from 1,500 to 1,750 hours. This has been made possible by the satisfactory conditions of engines that have already reached overhaul and by product improvements that have been released to the PT6A-64 model since its entry into service.

To be eligible for this improved TBO, the engine will require compliance with the following service bulletins:

• SB14261 improved hot section, applied from engine s/n PM0014 (installed on TBM s/n 135)
• SB 14308, improved RGB scavenging
• SB 14112 improved RG coupling, embodied since new from engine s/n 111053 (installed on TBM s/n 60) or SB14089 increased rotor stiffness.

The Pratt & Whitney Canada Corp's (P&WC's) PT6 turboprop family is the world's most popular engine in its class, with over 31,304 engines delivered as of the end of the first quarter of 2003. The PT6 turboprop family has established an enviable record for reliability and durability since the first PT6 was introduced to the market in 1964. The PT6 family had achieved over 247,190,600 flying hours.

FMI: www.socataircraft.com