TBM 980 makes its European air show debut at AERO Friedrichshafen

Daher Aircraft is highlighting its new flagship TBM 980 at this week’s AERO Friedrichshafen show, marking the airplane’s first participation in a major European event. Displayed on Daher Aircraft’s exhibit at Friedrichshafen Airport (Hall A3, Stand #305), the TBM 980 represents the latest evolution of the TBM family, integrating Garmin’s third-generation G3000 PRIME avionics with a new level of processing capability, system integration and pilot interface. The touchscreen-controlled flight deck with three 14-inch edge-to-edge interactive displays ensures seamless control of flight functions, with significant improvements in screen and image quality. Pilot workload is reduced through customizable presets and a streamlined user interface.
 
Nicolas Chabbert, the CEO of Daher Aircraft commented: “Customer feedback to the TBM 980 has been unanimous: the aircraft is living up to its ‘Fly Differently’ tagline by providing pilots with a next-generation flight deck that elevates operational capability, the ease of use and overall flight safety.” 
 
The G3000 PRIME architecture incorporates faster processing speeds, more responsive system performance and expanded data management capabilities – enabling seamless interaction between avionics, navigation, communication and aircraft systems. Its advanced human-machine interface is designed to reduce pilot workload while enhancing decision-making and operational safety.
 
Complementing the advanced avionics is the TBM 980’s Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6E-66XT engine, which is equipped with the dual-channel digital engine and propeller electronic control system that has been in service on the TBM 960 version. This combination enables optimized power management, improved fuel efficiency and simplified engine operation.
 
Inside the cabin, the TBM 980 offers an enhanced passenger experience with refined ergonomics, including 100-watt USB-C ports for the charging of mobile devices, an upgraded passenger display with enroute flight data, and a factory-installed terminal interface for Starlink Mini satellite-based Internet connectivity. Since the TBM 980’s official launch on January 15 at Daher Aircraft’s Tarbes, France headquarters, the company has delivered 13 of these aircraft to the U.S. and Europe. The TBM 980 is the sixth version in the TBM 900-series launched by Daher since it acquired the product line in 2014.