DAHER-SOCATA Names Blackcomb Aviation as a TBM Service Center for Western Canada

Aug. 6, 2013
Blackcomb Aviation will offer TBM operators the expertise of its highly skilled engineers and large - as well as recently upgraded - maintenance facilities at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR).

Vancouver, Canada -- August 8, 2013 - At the AirVenture Oshkosh air show in Wisconsin, DAHER-SOCATA today announced the approval of Blackcomb Aviation LP as an Authorized Service Center in Western Canada for the TBM family of very fast turboprop aircraft.

Blackcomb Aviation will offer TBM operators the expertise of its highly skilled engineers and large - as well as recently upgraded - maintenance facilities at Vancouver International Airport (CYVR). 

The company has been providing management services for turboprop business aircraft, helicopters and private jets to industries, business travelers and private citizens since 1989. The company currently operates 18 helicopters and eight fixed-wing aircraft from bases in Vancouver, Squamish, Whistler, Pemberton, Lillooet, Bridge River Valley, Sechelt and Victoria, British Columbia, Canada, in addition to a U.S. operation in Scottsdale, Arizona. 

Services include private executive aircraft management, aircraft maintenance, hydro/utility construction and maintenance operations, wildfire management, filming, executive jet charters, emergency services, construction, mining and tourism.

"With our location in North America's Pacific Northwest, our experienced team of aircraft maintenance engineers and the tremendous growth forecast for TBM sales in the region, Blackcomb is ideally situated to provide high-quality, personalized service to TBM owners," stated Jonathan Burke, President and Chief Operating Officer of Blackcomb Aviation. "We are very impressed with the DAHER-SOCATA team and the TBM product line, and very much look forward to partnering in supporting customers in western North America." 

Blackcomb Aviation has an international reputation for the recruitment and retention of exceptional staff, the versatility of its fleet, technically innovative training programs, and a rigorous safety management system and quality assurance program. 

The company is owned by John Morris, founder of Omega Air Corporation, and by the McLean family of the Vancouver-based McLean Group - which also owns and operates Vancouver Film Studios. 

"As we were looking for a service center to serve our increasing number of TBM customers in Western Canada, our team was very impressed by Blackcomb Aviation, its product offering and the sheer enthusiasm of its crew for the TBM," explained Nicolas Chabbert, president of SOCATA North America. "With such a dynamic partner in place, we expect our activities will benefit significantly from British Columbia's booming economy." 

About the TBM 850 - www.tbm850.com ; www.tbm-mma.com

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 - as well as the ability to land at small airports are some of its customers' favorite features. TBM 850 Elite offers owners the unique capability of tailoring the cabin to host four or six persons on board. 

Since its launch in 2005, the TBM 850 has become an international success, with 316 units delivered as of July 15, 2013. As of this date, the overall TBM 700/850 fleet - totaling more than 640 aircraft - had exceeded 1.1 million flight hours. 

About DAHER-SOCATA - www.daher.com

DAHER-SOCATA is the aerospace & defense business of DAHER. DAHER is a Tier-1 equipment supplier to the high-technology industries. An independent intermediate-sized company, DAHER deploys its integrated equipment and services supplier model across the aerospace & defense, nuclear & energy and capital goods industry sectors, and its growth is centered on complementary sets of expertise (Industrial Design and Manufacturing, Integrated Industrial SupportTM), combined into a comprehensive global offering. With a robust engineering-based approach, DAHER is able to deliver innovative and differentiating solutions to its industrial customers. 

Created in 1863, DAHER is an international group, present in 12 countries across the world. DAHER generates a turnover of more than 925 million euros, with an order book corresponding to around 3 years of turnover.