Niche Manufacturer Sees 100+ in Future As It Challenges Competitors

Daher announced the delivery of 73 aircraft from the combined Kodiak and TBM lineup throughout 2022, with record orders for 100+ for delivery through 2024.

The news tracks with the greater surge in single-engine turboprop interest in recent years, showing strong customer interest even in some of the more boutique options offered by Daher. Last year's release of the TBM 960 further cemented it as a world-class competitor in its low-wing, single turboprop niche, putting competitors on the back foot with one improvement after the other.

Daher says feedback on the TBM 960 is almost uniformly positive, with the worldwide fleet steadily growing since deliveries began partway through 2022. Its new PT6E-66XT engine, digital e-throttle, and high-tech cabin control systems provide an ambience that punches above the norm for turboprop singles, feeling more akin to a bizjet than a run-of-the-mill corporate runabout. 

Kodiak was hardly any different, releasing the Kodiak 900 to go toe to toe with the longstanding king of the high-wing turboprop market - the Caravan. The Kodiak 900 built on the strengths of the Kodiak 100 Series III, offering impressive utility and STOL performance bumps everywhere that mattered. A 3.9-foot fuselage extension added additional cargo space and passenger room, all with 9% lower fuel consumption. On top of that, operators of the Kodiak 900 get an increased 210-KTAS cruise speed and improved 1,129-nm range, with a greater useful load, to boot. The result? More cargo gets to the destination cheaper and faster than ever before. Production is ramping up, with 17 delivered last year.

“Last year’s business performance benefitted from the dedicated efforts of our production, delivery and sales teams on both sides of the Atlantic, along with our firm engagement to deal with the aviation industry’s continued supply chain challenges and employment shortages,” commented Nicolas Chabbert, the senior VP of the Daher Aircraft Division.

FMI: www.daher.com