TBM 700 turboprop-powered transport aircraft
Integration of a fully-integrated glass flight deck on 26 of the French
Armed Forces’ TBM 700s will enhance their operational capability
Tarbes, France, February 8, 2010 : DAHER-SOCATA today announced its
selection by the French Ministry of Defense for an avionics renovation and
associated upgrade services on a majority of the TBM 700s in service in the
French Armed Forces.
This contract, awarded by the country’s DGA military procurement agency,
covers the modernization of 14 French Air Force TBM 700As, seven TBM
700As and three TBM 700Bs of the French Army Aviation, along with two
TBM 700As of the country’s CEV Flight Test Center.
The work involves the supply and installation of a full Garmin G1000 avionics
suite, including a GFC 700 fully digital autopilot.
The transformation will upgrade all 26 TBM 700s – of which certain older
aircraft are still equipped with electro-mechanical instruments – to the
avionics standard of DAHER-SOCATA’s current-production TBM 850. This
modernization will meet civilian airworthiness standards, and is to be certified
by the European Aviation Safety Authority (EASA) – easing the integration of
these aircraft in the international air traffic system.
The contract also includes the following services linked to the modification:
Installation of the Iaero-supplied Apibox Flight Data Recorder system
on all aircraft,
Replacement of the Emergency Locator Transmitter by a compact
Artex ME406
Weather radar replacement and stormscope installation
Upgrade of passenger cabin outfitting, and
Training of pilots and engineers training on the new avionics systems.
This work will start with the modification of a civilian prototype in April,
followed by transformation of the first military TBM 700 in August. The final
aircraft is expected to be completed in June 2014.
“Our selection for this work represents another commercial success for DAHER-SOCATA’s growing customer services offering,” commented Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice-President of the DAHER-SOCATA Airplane Division.
“It confirms the excellent price-to-quality ratio of our maintenance and avionics retrofit solutions that can be provided for government, corporate and private operators.
Chabbert added that the new avionics systems will enhance the French military TBM 700 fleet’s operational capability, while also improving flight safety by easing the crew’s workload.
