For a few days last week, San Antonio International airport became home to more TBM aircraft than any other place on Earth when the TBM Owners and Pilots Association opened its 2017 convention. The TBMOPA said 117 aircraft of all the versions produced, including the TBM 700, TBM 850 and TBM 900-series, were counted, more than at any previous event. Along with the record number of aircraft, 325 people joined the fun during the convention’s three-day run that focused on airmanship and safety, with an emphasis on low-level loss of control and pilot situational awareness.
With airframe production numbers surpassing 860 units to date, Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the Daher Airplane Business Unit, said a new TBM is delivered just about every week. The TBMOPA convention also coincided with Daher’s handover of the 200th aircraft in the TBM 900-series, a TBM 910 that went to Cutter Aviation, the Texas-based TBM Authorized Distributor. Daher introduced new retrofit options for earlier TBM versions as well, such as the G1000 NXi avionics update, an integrated angle-of-attack (AoA) indicator, installation of a gaseous oxygen system and the addition of landing gear doors.
Event Chairman Howard Janzen said, “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.” Janzen said the association was grateful for Daher’s efforts in supporting safety-based enhancements to existing aircraft as well as their commitment to new production aircraft and support.
Member attendance in the academic forums offer additional value to TBM owners. “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. “Insurance savings, plus the added safety awareness and operational knowledge gained at the technical seminars, are compelling reasons to attend the TBMOPA annual convention.” Next year’s event runs September 12-15, 2018 at Greenbrier Valley, West Virginia.
