Press Release

Issued by Daher Aerospace.

April 30, 2009

DAHER-SOCATA is presenting the latest version of its TBM 850 during this week's EUR-AVIA International General Aviation Exhibition at Cannes-Mandelieu Airport on the French Riviera.

Featuring its new "High Flyer" standard paint scheme, the TBM 850 Model Year 2009 demonstrator exhibited at EUR-AVIA incorporates the new optional Synthetic Vision Technology (SVT) for the aircraft's Garmin G1000 all-glass integrated flight deck.

The SVT system – which is now fully certified on the TBM 850 by both the European EASA and U.S. FAA airworthiness authorities – provides three-dimensional depictions of terrain, obstacles and traffic on the G1000's primary flight displays, enabling the instrument panel to replicate what pilots would see outside the cockpit in a clear day. The large format reduces workload and fits well into a normal cockpit scan.

Another innovation highlighted at EUR-AVIA is the F.A.S.T (Fly and Share Your TBM) co-ownership program, which now is being made available by DAHERSOCATA's distributor network for prospective TBM 850 customers in Europe. This program recently was launched in North America, and offers the opportunity to purchase a one-third or two-thirds share of a brand-new TBM 850 on a co-ownership basis. For a one-third share, the minimum 100 days of exclusive use is provided per year on an unlimited flight hour basis – which differs from traditional fractional programs requiring the purchase of annual flight hours that are either used or lost.

The EUR-AVIA show, which runs from April 30 to May 2, enables Europe's general aviation sector to see the TBM 850 Model Year 2009 version and become familiar with its growing list of features. EUR-AVIA has developed into Southern Europe's main general aviation event, with the participation of 5,300 visitors and 145 aircraft in the 2008 exhibition. With the support of several organizations that are holding meetings at this year's EUR-AVIA – including the European branch of the TBM Owners and Pilot Association – the event is positioned to further increase its audience.

"As a crossroads for pilots and operators from southern Europe to Russia, EURAVIA is a great place to present the latest innovations of the TBM 850 Very Fast Turboprop to a selective audience," said Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of the DAHER-SOCATA Airplane Division. "EUR-AVIA has now established itself as a 'must-attend' general aviation event in Europe."

The TBM 850 is available via DAHER-SOCATA's existing direct sales and distribution network, and is supported by its extensive worldwide network of service centers. Since its launch in 2005, the TBM 850 has become an international success – with more than 200 aircraft sold, and 158 delivered to date to customers around the globe.

The TBM 850 is the world's fastest single engine turboprop, with a maximum cruise speed of 320 KTAS at 26,000 ft. (in ISA conditions). An 850-shp version of SOCATA's proven six-seat TBM 700 turboprop business aircraft, the TBM 850 combines the cruising speed and travel times typical of light jets with economical direct operating costs, while offering the range and excellent payload capacity of turboprop aircraft.