Daher-Socata unveils model year 2013 TBM850 to U.S market DAHER-SOCATA’s Model Year 2013 version of its TBM 850 Elite was unveiled last friday at Florida’s Boca Raton Airport for customers in the United States – which remains one of the primary markets for this very fast turboprop business aircraft. Compared to last year’s model, a cockpit enhancement is the integration of L-3 Avionics’ Trilogy™ ESI-2000 Electronic Standby Instrument (ESI), which replaces the previous electro-mechanical instrument version. As the first solid-state integrated standby system specifically created for general aviation, the advanced solid-state Trilogy™ ESI-2000 has an internal battery and easy-to-read 4 X 3-inch active matrix liquid crystal display. Based on the tremendous customer interest in the TBM 850 Elite – which debuted last year – we are continuing its production in 2013,” explained Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of DAHER-SOCATA’s Airplane Division and President of SOCATA North America. “For this year, we have made further improvements inside and out, along with enhancements to the aircraft’s comprehensive maintenance program.” The Model Year 2013 TBM 850’s Elite offering of interior colors has been extended with the choice of Moccha dark brown leather, as well as a medium grey, referred to as River Stone. In addition, the aircraft’s seat backs are now perforated to improve comfort on hot days. DAHER-SOCATA also offers a special package for its Model Year 2013 that features a host of benefits such as a deluxe leather interior with a storage cabinet, wooden or carbon-fiber fittings and 14-Volt DC power plugs. This includes also DAHER-SOCATA’s Highly Extended Exclusive Maintenance Program, which lowers scheduled maintenance costs for five years or 1,000 hours. In 2013, this program is completed by the CAMP maintenance tracking system, which enables the owner to easily follow its maintenance. Additional safety options in this year’s Elite package are a GPS-linked emergency locator transmitter, and a pulsed light system that alternately flashes the landing, taxi and recognition lights 45 times-per-minute to increase the aircraft’s visibility. DAHER-SOCATA developed the TBM 850 Elite to offer unique capability in tailoring the passenger cabin in meeting operators’ needs. Its middle seats can be oriented in a forward-facing position, while the rear seats are removable. In approximately 30 minutes, the TBM 850 can be reconfigured in a four-seat cabin, increasing the luggage volume capacity by three and doubling the maximum luggage weight. Primary technical changes in the TBM 850 Elite are the new intermediate seats, whose base is narrower; and a forward shift in positioning of the passenger oxygen system, which enables passengers to be assisted in both the cabin’s six- and fourseat configurations. Popular options in this package include a full avionics suite with Garmin’s Synthetic Vision System dynamic terrain imaging, Chartview electronic chart database, and the GSR 56 Iridium satellite datalink transceiver for global connectivity – providing on-demand weather information, text/voice communications and near real-time position tracking. For more information: SOCATA North America, Inc. North Perry Airport, 7501 South Airport Rd. Pembroke Pines, FL 33023 / USA www.tbm850.com ***
