Socata Builds on Firm Foundation
for TBM 700 in North America

The TBM 700 single-engined high-speed business turboprop is the focus of Socata's presence at NBAA 2000. The North American market represents more than 50% of TBM 700 total sales to date, and Socata's marketing efforts have been reinvigorated following the establishment of EADS (the European Aeronautic Defence and Space company) earlier this year.

Socata's former parent company, Aerospatiale-Matra, has merged with DaimlerChrysler Aerospace (DASA) and Spain's CASA, to form EADS-the world's third largest aerospace company. Socata EADS is now an element of the Aeronautics Division of EADS and is based in Tarbes, France. In the United States a wholly-owned subsidiary, Socata Aircraft, is responsible for sales and customer support.

The importance of the U.S. to the TBM 700, and to Socata in general, was underlined by the scale of the annual TBM operator's convention held this past May on Paradise Island, in the Bahamas. Hosted by Socata Aircraft, the event brought together not only TBM 700 owners and pilots but all major suppliers, repair facilities and training organisations. The convention saw the biggest gathering of TBM 700s to date, with 20 flying in to Nassau International Airport.

The pressurized, high-performance TBM 700 can seat six to seven passengers and was specifically designed as a business aircraft. It is powered by a flat-rated 700 shp PT6A-64 turboprop and offers a maximum range of 1,550 nmi. With a maximum cruising speed of 300 knots, the TBM 700 also has excellent low-speed, short-runway capability. The turboprop single can take on a wide range of utility missions and has been developed for medevac, advanced pilot training and all-freight tasks.

Socata has now developed the TBM 700B, a 'large door' version of the basic aircraft, which features a 3.9 foot x 3.5 foot side door that allows better access to the main cabin and pressurized luggage compartment. It also makes it easier to load bulky packages and expands the aircraft's multimission capability. In June 2000 French army aviation took delivery of three TBM 700Bs for use on high-priority personnel transport tasks. The TBM 700B is capable of reaching any European military headquarters in a matter of hours and has been used extensively to support French military units in Bosnia and Kosovo. In French service the aircraft has routinely demonstrated its ability to operate from 2,400-foot runways. Socata claims a direct operating cost of $230 per flight hour-or 90 cents a mile.

In addition to the TBM 700B a dedicated all-freight version, the TBM 700C, has been available since 1998. This aircraft has a separate cargo door on the port side and a reinforced floor capable of carrying loads up to 1,819 pounds. The TBM 700C retains a quick-change passenger/freight conversion capability.

To meet growing demand Socata has recently opened a new assembly facility at its Tarbes headquarters. The additional production hall adds another 20,000 square feet to the 600,000 square feet already in use on site. While it is needed chiefly to support demand for the TB GT piston singles, the new facility also provides extra space for increased output on the TBM 700 line.