The company’s TBM military fleet upgrade program now moves into its
industrial phase
Tarbes, France, May 2, 2011 – DAHER-SOCATA has delivered the first modernized TBM 700 to the French Ministry of Defense, marking a new milestone in its contract with the country’s DGA procurement agency to upgrade 27 of these single-engine turboprop-powered aircraft in service with the French armed forces.
Main elements of the modernization include DAHER-SOCATA’s replacement of aging avionics with an all-glass integrated flight deck that incorporates the Garmin G1000 avionics suite with GFC 700 digital autopilot, along with civilian certification and related enhancements for a better integration of the aircraft within the international air traffic system.
Also included are a modern weather radar with Stormscope weather
avoidance system, an emergency locator transmitter (ELT), and the Apibox flight data recorder system.
As part of DAHER-SOCATA’s contract, the company is providing
familiarization training on the TBM 700’s new systems for pilots and
mechanics, along with maintenance and operating documentation and
equipment spares support. This upgrade activity is to continue through the end of 2014, involving fifteen French Air Force TBM 700As, five TBM 700As and three TBM 700Bs for the French Army Aviation, and four TBM 700As of the country’s CEV military flight test center.
We are extremely proud of the French military’s acceptance of our first modernized TBM 700,” stated Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the DAHER-SOCATA Airplane Division. “This recognizes the high-quality work of our teams, who are implementing a phased modernization of the French armed forces’ TBM 700 fleet without restricting the operational activity of the units that fly them.
The TBM 700 is the 700-hp predecessor of DAHER-SOCATA’s TBM 850,
which is the world’s fastest single-engine turboprop with a maximum cruise speed of 320 KTAS at 26,000 ft. (in ISA conditions). Both TBM aircraft combine the cruise speed and travel times typical of light jets with economical direct operating costs, while offering the range and excellent payload capacity of turboprop aircraft.
The combined TBM 700 and TBM 850 fleet now stands at 548 units. In 2010, the total flight time of these aircraft exceeded 800,000 flight hours.
About DAHER-SOCATA
DAHER is a European integrated equipment and services supplier. The
company specializes in the aerospace, nuclear, defense and industry
sectors, concentrating on three core activities: manufacturing, services and transport, which it builds into a global offer.
Founded in 1863, DAHER is an independent, international group with installations in 12 countries. DAHER has tripled in size over six years to reach an annual turnover of 740 million Euros in 2009. DAHER-SOCATA, DAHER group’s aeronautics division, boasts a global and original offering to serve airframe manufacturers and tier-1 equipment manufacturers, with established expertise in four complementary activities presenting a wealth of synergies: aircraft manufacturing, aerostructures, services and technology specialties.
In 2011, DAHER-SOCATA is celebrating the 100th anniversary of continuous aircraft production, marking a legacy that began in 1911 with its predecessor company – Aeroplanes Morane-Saulnier.
