Tarbes, France, September 20, 2010 – DAHER-SOCATA today announced its delivery of the first Polish-registered TBM 850 to Sat Film, a TV cable and communications operator that offers services in Lodz, third largest city in Poland.
Robert Kowalczyk, the Sat Film owner and pilot, belongs to the new generation of selfmade entrepreneurs in Poland. The 46-year-old Kowalczyk graduated as an historian, and he created Sat Film 18 years ago from scratch. The company now counts 60,000 subscriptions to its cable, telephone and internet services. In the next step, Sat Film is anticipating a licence for mobile phone services.
Obtaining a pilot’s licence was dream come true for Kowalczyk, and he started flight training in 2004. While preparing for his instrument rating in 2007, he decided to order a very light jet to extend his operations all over Europe.
“During my instrument rating training course, I realized the very light jet couldn’t land on the short runways close to my final destinations, and this would add travel times to my typical trips,” he explained. “So I looked for another airplane. Ultimately, I found that the TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft was exactly what I was looking for in terms of speed, range and operating efficiency.”
“We are extremely pleased that our TBM 850 was selected by a successful entrepreneur as Robert. Kowalczyk,” said Nicolas Chabbert, DAHER-SOCATA’s Senior Vice President – Airplane Division. “His acquisition demonstrates how our TBM 850 is perfectly tailored to link Eastern and Western Europe, based on its performance and flexibility.”
The TBM 850 is world’s fastest single turboprop aircraft, with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at Flight Level 260 (in ISA conditions). It combines the cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and eco-friendly environmental signature of a turboprop engine. The TBM 850’s maximum range and useful load – which are enhanced on the current 2010 model-year aircraft – and the ability to land at small airports are some of its customers’ favorite features.
About DAHER-SOCATA
DAHER is a European-based integrated equipment and services supplier with a worldwide reach. It specializes in the aerospace, nuclear, defense and industry sectors, and focuses its activities in three fields of expertise: manufacturing, services, and transportation – which enable it to offer a comprehensive package.
Created in 1863, DAHER is an independent international group with bases in 12 countries. The company has tripled its business during the past six years, achieving a turnover of 740 million euros in 2009.
Its DAHER-SOCATA division is one of the world’s leading general aviation
manufacturers, with more than 17,000 aircraft built since its creation as Morane-Saulnier in 1911. Current products include the TBM 850 high-speed turboprop aircraft, aerostructures for Airbus civil airliners, the A400M military transporter, Dassault Falcon jets, Eurocopter helicopters and Embraer regional jets.
DAHER-SOCATA is expanding its customer service activities to support its growing fleet of TBMs and offer its light aviation expertise for aircraft below 19,000 lbs (8.6 metric tons) through avionics modernization, maintenance, repair and overall package offers.
For more information, visit www.daher.com
