Press Release

Issued by Daher Aerospace.

April 25, 2013

Daher-Socata today announced the appointment of Bartolini Air Maintenance in Lodz, Poland as a TBM Service Center. Under terms of this agreement, Bartolini Air Maintenance is approved to perform TBM 700 and TBM 850 maintenance, as well as provide warranty support and facilitate access to both parts and technical support.

Founded in 2012 as a sister company of Bartolini Air – which is one of Poland's most well-known flight training organizations – Bartolini Air Maintenance is a diversified aircraft maintenance company located at Lodz Lublinek international airport (ICAO airport code: EPLL). Approved to EASA Part 145 standards, Bartolini Air Maintenance also is certified to handle a large number of general aviation aircraft types. The company's facility has a 330- square-meter heated hangar, along with 1,500 square meters of apron area.

"Bartolini Air Maintenance is a highly respected aviation company in Poland for the quality of its services, and we welcome the organization to our network for the benefit of our customers in this region,” commented Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher-Socata's Airplane Division. “Daher-Socata has expanded its network of authorized service centers to ensure it can meet the needs of a growing customer base. Bartolini Air Maintenance is an excellent asset to further develop our activities in Poland, bringing solutions in standard and specific scheduled maintenance, engine support, airworthiness management and spare parts."

Dariusz Zarzycki, the managing director of Bartolini Air Maintenance, said his company is strategically located at Lodz airport, which is equipped with a 2,500-meter-long concrete runway and is accessible throughout the year to all types of domestic and international traffic arriving in VFR and IFR operating conditions.

"Being based in Poland, our company is ideally situated to take advantage of the forecasted growth of the region.' Zarzycki added. “A young, very experienced team is fully committed to serve Daher-Socata's current and future customers."

Daher-Socata's TBM 850 is the world's fastest single turboprop aircraft, with a maximum cruising speed of 320 KTAS at Flight Level 260 (in ISA conditions). It combines cruising speed and trip times of a light jet with the economic direct operating costs, range and moderate environmental signature of a turboprop engine. The maximum range and useful load – which are enhanced on the current version – and the ability to land at small airports are some of its customers' favorite features.

The worldwide TBM fleet – composed of the TBM 850 and its predecessor TBM 700 version – has surpassed the combined 1 million flight hour milestone. With more than 625 of these very fast turboprop business aircraft produced to date, the overall fleet usage now averages in excess of 120,000 flight hours annually.

The worldwide TBM fleet – composed of the TBM 850 and its predecessor TBM 700 version – has surpassed the combined 1 million flight hour milestone. With more than 625 of these very fast turboprop business aircraft produced to date, the overall fleet usage now averages in excess of 120,000 flight hours annually.