The 2017 TBM Owners and
Pilots Association (TBMOPA) convention brought together an all-time
high of 117 TBMs for this year’s event, underscoring the annual
gathering’s importance, as well as the growing number of Daher-built
very fast turboprop aircraft in operation worldwide.
Converging at San
Antonio’s International airport were aircraft representing all TBM
versions produced by Daher to date: the TBM 700, TBM 850 and TBM
900-series.
In total, 325
participants attended the convention, held October 18-22 at the San
Antonio Hill Country Resort, with the TBMOPA’s worldwide membership
participating in three days of dynamic learning sessions customized
for TBM owners and operators. The main focus was on airmanship and
safety, with an emphasis this year on maintaining flight control at
low level, along with pilot situational awareness.
As the TBM’s
manufacturer, Daher introduced new retrofit options for earlier TBM
versions, such as the G1000 NXi avionics update, the integration of
an angle-of-attack (AoA) indicator, installation of a gaseous oxygen
system and the addition of landing gear doors.
“The 2017
TBMOPA convention reflects the TBM fleet’s continued expansion, with
overall deliveries of our very fast turboprop aircraft now
surpassing the 860-unit milestone and a new aircraft delivered
almost every week,” commented
Nicolas Chabbert,
Senior Vice President of the Daher Airplane Business Unit. “In San
Antonio, we were able to meet many new members of the TBM family who
represent different backgrounds and profiles.”
Chabbert noted that
the TBMOPA convention coincided with Daher’s handover of the 200th
aircraft in the TBM 900-series: a TBM 910 version received by Cutter
Aviation, the Texas-based TBM Authorized Distributor. He also
confirmed Daher’s ongoing support for the TBMOPA’s activities, with
the member organization acknowledged as the aviation industry’s
closest working relationship between an aircraft manufacturer and
its owners/pilots association.
This year’s TBMOPA
convention included three days of dynamic academic sessions
customized for the TBM, featuring presentations by Daher as the
aircraft manufacturer, along with TBM system vendors such as Pratt &
Whitney Canada (producer of the TBM’s PT6 turboprop engine) and
Hartzell (the TBM propeller supplier).
Among the 2017
convention’s key speakers were Captain John M. Cox, the CEO of
Safety Operating Systems; Tony James, a former FAA Senior Air Safety
Investigator who discussed recurring themes in high-profile
accidents; and Erik Elliel, who provided details on the TBM weather
radar’s optimal use.
Continued at this
year’s event were the highly-appreciated activities for companions
of TBM owners and operators, including the “pinch hitter” flight
training program for non-pilots and a tour of the famous Alamo
historical site.
“The 2017
TBMOPA convention marked another step in meeting our association’s
goal of promoting safety and providing opportunities to maximize
both the pleasure and utility of the TBM ownership experience,”
TBMOPA Chairman Howard
Janzen explained. “We very
much appreciate Daher’s efforts in supporting safety-based
enhancements to existing aircraft as well as for their new
production aircraft. It is a sign of the TBM manufacturer’s
long-term commitment to the product line.”
He added that
participation of TBMOPA members in the convention’s academic portion
qualifies attendees for savings on insurance premiums.
“Participating
underwriters recognize the value of the TBMOPA safety enhancement
program and offer owners a credit for as much as 10 percent of the
hull premium after a claim-free year,” Janzen said. “These insurance
savings, plus the added safety awareness and operational knowledge
gained from the technical seminars, are compelling reasons to attend
the TBMOPA annual convention!”
The next TBMOPA
annual convention will be held September 12-15, 2018 in the U.S. at
Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia. |