Two TBM turboprop singles are at the Daher static display (SD19) this week at EBACE 2018, illustrating the benefits of operating the high-performance airplane in commercial service following last year’s approval of single-engine turboprop IFR (SET-IFR) rules in Europe.
Charter operator Voldirect was the first to gain SET-IFR approval and logged 407 flights in 2017, while expanding its TBM 850 fleet to three from one. “We expect that to continue going up in 2018,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior v-p of the Daher Airplane Business Unit.
Daher offers specific assistance for charter operators to ensure they are able to serve their customers and also with establishing new charter services. “We are committed to support our operators to finalize their program,” he said.
The French company itself is unique as a Tier 1 aerospace supplier that is also an aircraft manufacturer, according to CEO Didier Kayat. With more than 10,000 employees and $1.2 billion annual turnover, Daher’s revenue is split 50/50 between manufacturing and services. The company’s backlog currently stands at three years.
Last year, TBM deliveries were the second best in the history of the program, Kayat said, and last year Daher signed its first contract with Boeing, for manufacture of 787 thermoplastic composite structural parts.
Long-term strategic plans for Daher include expanding its operations in the U.S. and further investments in digital technology and innovation. The company’s new team in Silicon Valley is partnering with and investing in start-up companies, he said, “to help us increase our digitization. We will be a global player because our market is global.”
