Daher- Socata delivers 38 TBM 850 turbo-prop aircraft in 2012 DAHER-SOCATA today announced that 38 TBM 850s were delivered in 2012 – representing the fourth best year for the company’s TBM aircraft family since 1990, and underscoring the very fast turboprop’s continued value in an evolving global market. The 2012 deliveries bring to 622 units the total number of aircraft received by customers, of which 298 are TBM 850 – the latest version of DAHERSOCATA’s very fast turboprop aircraft family. According to General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) year-end shipment and billings figures – which were released today in Washington, D.C. – the 38 TBM 850 deliveries last year represented an 18 percent share of its market segment. This reflects an increased market share when compared to the competitors. The majority of TBM 850s purchased in 2012 were acquired by U.S. customers (66 percent). Canada ranked second, with 13 percent, followed by Brazil and Germany’s eight percent of the 2012 sales. One sale was achieved in the U.K. last year, where the market is showing signs of recovery, while Thailand joined the club of TBM countries with a contract for its first TBM 850 in June. The TBM 850 sales success confirms our very fast turboprop’s position as the keystone of DAHER-SOCATA’s strategy,” explained Stephane Mayer, Chairman and CEO of DAHER-SOCATA – the aerospace and defense activity of the DAHER Group. “This also supports our Group’s current strategy to invest in research and development to support our products and our long-term growth. Nicolas Chabbert, the Senior Vice President of DAHER-SOCATA’s Airplane Division, said the availability of its TBM 850 Elite version – which was certified in July – boosted sales during the second half of 2012. Efficiency and value remain the competitive advantages of turboprop aircraft, as demonstrated by the TBM 850’s continued sales successes,” Chabbert added. “This explains the resilience of turboprop aircraft at a time when very light jets are competing in the marketplace. Building on its commercial momentum, DAHER-SOCATA is offering the Model Year 2013 TBM 850 “Elite” with a host of benefits, including the highly extended Exclusive Maintenance Program – which lowers scheduled maintenance costs for five years or 1,000 hours – and the GSR 56 Iridium based satellite telephone system. For more information: SOCATA North America, Inc. North Perry Airport, 7501 South Airport Rd. Pembroke Pines, FL 33023 / USA www.tbm850.com ***