Press Release

Issued by Daher Aerospace.

May 23, 2014

Daher-Socata today announced the sale of a TBM 900 to a European customer at the European Business Aviation Convention and Exhibition (EBACE). The customer is Badenwings, a subsidiary of Jochen Schmitt Holding AG. Jochen Schmidt, chairman of both Schmidt and Badenwings signed the contract.

As its name suggests, the company is based at Germany's Baden-Baden airport, where it will operate the very fast turboprop aircraft. This is the first TBM 900 sold to a final customer in Europe, and the first sold by Rheinland Air Service (RAS), Daher-Socata's TBM distributor for Germany and Austria.

“We selected the new TBM 900 for its flexibility to carry small freight as well as passengers on private internal flights of our holding company,” commented Nielsen Bott, the ceo of Badenwings GmbH. “As a second step we plan to apply for an Aircraft Operator Certificate to offer commercial service to external passengers when European Authority will allow single-engine turbine commercial operations in instrument meteorological conditions.” He concluded.

He also praised the TBM 900's operational qualities: “It is fast, comfortable and offers an excellent range, as well as the capability to land on short runways,” Bott added. “Being in the quiet category enables us to operate from airports without paying high landing fees, and during nighttime hours at airports with curfews such as Stuttgart.”

“We are thankful to Badenwings in selecting the TBM 900 for their corporate transportation needs, stated Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of the Daher-Socata airplane business unit. “Its choice proves we made the right decision in developing and launching the TBM 900. We also congratulate RAS, our distributor for Germany and Austria in its first sale of a TBM 900 in Europe.”