DAHER-SOCATA appoints Rheinland Air Service as its distributor for Germany and Austria

• The established German-based company will market and support DAHER- SOCATA’s TBM 850 very fast turboprop aircraft in Austria and Germany
• RAS orders two Model Year 2010 TBM 850s for delivery later this year

Friedrichshafen, Germany, April 8, 2010 – DAHER-SOCATA has appointed Rheinland Air Service (RAS), headquartered at Düsseldorf-Mönchegladbach Airport, as the distributor, service center and parts supplier for its TBM range of aircraft in Germany and Austria. This announcement was made at the 2010 AERO International Aviation Trade Show, which opens today in Friedrichshafen, Germany.

In addition to the distributor contract RAS, has ordered two Model Year 2010 TBM 850s, which will be delivered later this year. One will be utilized as a demonstrator for RAS and is to be based at Düsseldorf-Mönchegladbach Airport, while the other will be available for sale.

RAS is an established maintenance center for regional airliners in Germany, and has extended its expertise to business and general aviation services – including spare parts distribution, avionics repair and aircraft sales. Additionally, RAS has FBO (fixed-based operator) operations at Düsseldorf-Weezee and Düsseldorf-Mönchengladbach airports, delivering avgas and jet fuel. More recently, RAS expanded into operating the Business Aviation Terminal at Munich Executive Airport (formerly Oberpfaffenhofen).

"DAHER-SOCATA is pleased to welcome RAS into our network, as this is a company that has clearly demonstrated its capabilities in the German market –which strategically is the most important for European general aviation,” said Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the DAHER-SOCATA Airplane Division."

"We thank DAHER-SOCATA for its trust in our organization to market the TBM 850 in Germany and Austria,” added RAS CEO Johannes Graf von Schaesberg. “The 2010 AERO International event is an excellent opportunity to start our partnership for the sales and support of new TBM 850s.”

The AERO International Aviation Trade Show is one of Europe’s primary general aviation trade events, with the participation of 570 exhibitors from 30 countries. This gathering, being held April 8-11, is strengthened by a partnership with the Experimental Aircraft Association (EAA), organizer of AirVenture Oshkosh – the world’s largest air show held annually in the U.S.

DAHER-SOCATA’s presence at AERO International is highlighted by the display of a 2010 TBM 850 aircraft, which has the optional Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) for the Garmin G1000 all-glass integrated flight deck.

Since its launch in 2005, the TBM 850 has become an international success – with 216 aircraft ordered, and over 190 delivered to customers around the globe. The aircraft is available via DAHER-SOCATA’s existing direct sales and distribution network, and is supported by its extensive worldwide network of service centers.

The TBM 850 is the world’s fastest single engine turboprop, with a maximum cruise speed of 320 KTAS at 26,000 ft. (in ISA conditions). An 850-shp. version of SOCATA’s proven six-seat TBM 700 turboprop business aircraft, the TBM 850 combines the cruising speed and travel times typical of light jets with economical direct operating costs, low environmental signature, range and excellent payload capacity of turboprop aircraft.

TBM Program Milestones

1988: First flight of the TBM 700 prototype,
1990: Certification and first customer delivery of the TBM 700, world’s first civilian pressurized turboprop certified
1991: TBM 700 ordered by the French Air Force for liaison duties, 20 aircraft are purchased
1992: A TBM 700 is selected as the shuttle for the International Olympics Committee at the Courchevel Mountain airport during Winter Olympics Games
1993: “Around the world in less than 80 hours” by a TBM 700 – With the crew of Jacques Lemaigre du Breuil, Nicolas Gorodiche and Olivier Waisblat
1994: Odyssey Aviation, First Public Transport Commercial Operator of the TBM 700, Toronto, Canada
1994: Lindbergh Trophy, New York – Paris direct flight in a TBM 700 in 10 hr 54 min 41 seconds pilot: J. Lemaigre du Breuil
 French Army Aviation (ALAT) orders 5 TBM 700
 TBM 700 is the first single-engine turboprop approved for Public Transport in Canada
1997: Launch of the TBM 700B, with large door and optional pilot door
1999: TBM 700B Freighter version go-ahead; ALAT (French Army Aviation) orders 3 TBM 700Bs
2000: First civilian fleet order from Jetfly, fractional ownership operator
2001: Quest Diagnostics orders a fleet of 6 TBM 700B Freighter for medical sample transport
2003: TBM 700C2 increased maximum takeoff weight version introduced
2005: TBM 850 Launch announcement,
2006: First deliveries of the TBM 850
2008: Introduction of the TBM 850 with the G1000 integrated all-glass flight deck