Daher Pushes Charter Role For The TBM 900

Daher has found a comfortable niche for its speedy TBM 900 as personal transportation for owner pilots, but now it would like to expand sales in both North America and Europe in the fly-for-hire segment. Charter work has traditionally been dominated by twin-engine aircraft and especially turboprops and jet aircraft, mainly because of safety perceptions.

But at an NBAA press conference in Las Vegas Tuesday, Daher argued that a single-engine turboprop can deliver comparable safety at a much lower cost than twins. And because of its speed—300 knots plus—the TBM 900 easily keeps pace with jets on short stage lengths. "It's time for us to ask you to consider a single-engine turboprop for your next aircraft," said Nicolas Chabbert, VP of Daher's aircraft manufacturing business unit. To convince would-be charter operators to consider the TBM, Chabbert showed data that indicates the TBM has operating costs about 28 percent lower than a twin turboprop and nearly 70 percent less than a light jet on similar missions. Costs per mile and costs per seat, on similar trips, are also lower.

To sweeten the pot for buyers, Daher is introducing what it calls a Charter Pack to support for-hire operations. It includes professional training, an extended maintenance program and continuing airworthiness support for the TBM. And to improve its general support of the entire TBM line, Daher has substantially increased its parts inventory at its new Pompano Beach, Florida, North American headquarters.

Thus far, Daher has achieved minimal penetration in the charter market, but one operator told reporters that his experience with the TBM has thus far been profitable. Eric Walden of Little Hawk Logistics began charter ops with a TBM just this year. "The TBM is its own niche. I didn't want to operate in a market dominated by another type of aircraft," Walden said. He said most of his trips have been an hour to an hour and a half. "But it does every mission well," Walden said. Walden said he has achieved profitable results flying as few as 33 hours a month.