TBMOPA raises its flight safety focus to a new level at the association’s 2026 Annual Convention

BACK TO NEWS
Turboprop Aircraft - DAHER TBM 960, TBM 910

TBMOPA raises its flight safety focus to a new level at the association’s 2026 Annual Convention
TBMOPA raises its flight safety focus to a new level at the association’s 2026 Annual Convention
2026 Published on 
share facebook share facebook

TBMOPA raises its flight safety focus to a new level at the association’s 2026 Annual Convention

Phoenix, Arizona, November 3, 2026 – The TBMOPA (TBM Owners and Pilots Association) has taken its flight safety focus to a new level, dedicating the organization’s 2026 Annual Convention to three days of activities exploring the principles and practices of sound aeronautical decision-making.

Held in Phoenix, Arizona, this year’s event attracted more than 300 attendees, including TBM owners/operators and their companions, equipment and services suppliers, along with representatives of Daher Aircraft – the TBM manufacturer and a key TBMOPA sponsor.

A total of 78 TBMs were flown to Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport, representing the full family range: the TBM 700, TBM 850 and TBM 900-series, with these aircraft arriving from across the U.S., and from Canada, the Bahamas, Switzerland and South Africa. Included in this overall count were nine TBM 980s – the latest version that Daher Aircraft began delivering to international customers in January.

The convention’s aeronautical decision-making theme addressed the decisions that pilots face throughout a flight, beginning with the go/no-go assessment and extending to hazard identification and risk management. Interactive “Passport to Safety” sessions brought together roundtable groups, where TBM owners and operators shared their experience and considered practical ways to apply sound decision-making in their own operations.

“TBMOPA and its members are to be applauded for the commitment to advancing flight safety, especially as the TBM in-service fleet and its aviator community continue to grow – with more than 1,330 airplanes delivered to date,” said Nicolas Chabbert, the CEO of Daher Aircraft.

Chabbert led an 11-member Daher Aircraft delegation from the company’s operations in France and the U.S. to attend the Convention. He briefed attendees on the commitment to safety, which is reflected in Daher Aircraft’s continual enhancements for the TBM’s capabilities and the reduction of pilot workload through technology. His presentation concluded with key takeaways organized around the acronym PSCD, which stands for: Prepare, develop Scenarios; be alert & Compare scenarios, and Decide.

During his TBMOPA Annual Convention discussion, Daher Aircraft CEO Nicolas Chabbert underscored the company’s dedication to continual improvement for the TBM airplane family with the objective of further enhancing safety and operational efficiency.

Presentations during the Annual Convention by the Daher Care customer support team dealt with such topics as TBM system and software updates, along with the sustained development of such digital services as the Me & My TBM application.

JJ Suarez, the TBMOPA Chairman, stated: “Flight safety is a responsibility that we all share, and this year’s convention once again demonstrated what can be achieved when owners, operators and the wider TBM community come together with a common purpose. We appreciate Daher Aircraft’s continued partnership and its commitment to providing the technology, resources and expertise that help our members operate their airplanes safely and confidently.”

The Convention program opened with an in-depth review of the investigation into the 2003 Columbia space shuttle accident, which was presented by Nigel Packham, a former NASA Associate Director of Safety. This analysis examined critical decisions and missed opportunities that contributed to the loss of the spacecraft and its seven-member crew during atmospheric reentry.

Among the other Convention highlights was a ceremonial “graduation” for the first class of pilots completing the TBM Advanced Aviator Program (TAAP). This voluntary program encourages TBM pilots to meet a comprehensive annual standard of training and proficiency, with the goal of building and supporting the safety culture within the TBMOPA.

The TBMOPA continued its tradition of fundraising for the TBMOPA Foundation, which raised $360,000 this year through live and on-line bidding. The Foundation supports multiple aviation-related scholarships as well as initiatives such as the association’s safety seminars and videos. Daher Aircraft once again contributed to the auction by offering a Bahamas getaway package with transportation in a TBM or Kodiak, attracting a winning bid of $7,500.

DOWNLOAD THE PRESS RELEASE
Daher | Kodiak | SPECIAL MISSION AIRCRAFT | LEGACY AIRCRAFT SPECIAL MISSION AIRCRAFT LEGACY AIRCRAFT
POLICIES | ABOUT US |