Daher Updates on Programs, Showcases Business Aviation for TBMs and Kodiaks

The TBM 900 series and Kodiak 100 and 900 built by Daher Aircraft take on a multitude of roles around the globe—but it’s their growing capacity to serve niche business aviation markets that the French manufacturer has highlighted at this year’s NBAA-BACE in Las Vegas. The TBM 980, introduced in January, is now closing in on 43 deliveries as of press time today.

While most of those aircraft have delivered into North America, the TBM and Kodiak both are seeing penetration around the world, including Latin America, following the company’s recent investment in an office in Brazil. Since launching Daher Aircraft in the country, it has delivered a total of five TBMs there, and it will continue to focus attention there, as it sees opportunity for Kodiak sales there as well.

The TBM 900-series turboprops flown by Little Hawk Logistics allow accessibility into airports not realistic for other turbine equipment. [Courtesy of Daher]

Business Aviation Focus

“I don’t know if you can run a business that is really remote and you are seriously depending on [airline] travels that are sort of reliable,” said Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft, in a press conference at NBAA-BACE on Monday. “GA is definitely reliable and definitely the kind of sector that you want to put your money into, and this is why I think we’re able to see this potential.”

Eric Walden, founder of Little Hawk Logistics, knows the value well, and joined the panel at BACE to discuss the success he has had in utilizing a series of TBM models for his charter business based out of Charlottesville, Virginia (KCHO) and Scottsdale, Arizona (KSDL). He shared his perspective on more than 10 years operating TBMs in charter, following his piloting career in the airlines and flying for NetJets. “I was pretty sure it was going to work, but now I’m sure it works,” said Walden. “Four years later, we’ve flown 8,000 hours, 7,000 passengers, and burned a whole lot of jet-A.”

Across the pond, Calade Air, based in Lyon, France, has two TBM 960s; it originally had a TBM 700 as well. “He’s actually grouping a number of entrepreneurs that have no links and no business together,” said Chabbert, “but they have to get to places, and they need to master their productions from one place to Europe to another, and still get back home in a decent way. So they have a number of aircraft, and they have elected to use TBM [960s], and they also put a [Kodiak] 100 on their [fleet].”

Another example is Vuelatour, which operates a Kodiak 100 in Cancun. Mexico. The company provides charter service, as well as air ambulance for cruise ship operators in the touristic region.

A Swiss couple plans to use the versatile Kodiak 900 for its adventure-seeking forays around Europe. [Courtesy of Daher]

First Kodiak 900 into Europe

After the airplane’s European tour last spring—during which the demo 900 chalked up more than 158 hours of squawk-free operation, according to Daher’s senior director of multi-missions and business development, Paul Carelli—the company has now marked the first delivery of a 900 into the EU. A Swiss couple will be using it to further their own outdoor adventures: Roland and Claudia Primus are based at Bad Ragaz Aerodrome (LSZE) with a 1,624-ft runway.

“They want to go as fast as possible, but they need to load up an aircraft, and so the Kodiak 900 was exactly the kind of aircraft they need, so that you can have fun all around the world, but also across Europe,” said Chabbert in the briefing. “Probably the number one criteria that was retained by the Swiss couple was to avoid going to major airports where the airport fees continue to rise to almost the same pricing where as you go and land…in a grass field—and you basically avoid an enormous amount of annoyance and cost.”

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation operates its Kodiak 900 on a variety of backcountry missions. [Courtesy of Daher]

Systems Integration Key to the Multi-mission Kodiaks

Daher has also been stepping up its capability to increase application of both the Kodiak 100 and 900 in multi-mission roles by providing factory integration of special equipment used by those customers.

The Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation utilizes its Kodiak 900 on fire-fighting missions into the state’s deep backcountry—the first such 900 in use globally. One critical piece of equipment on board the 900 is its AeroConnect digital audio control system with an expanded radio configuration, which works in concert with its Air Tactical Group Supervisor (ATGS) capability. “They love it so much, they’re purchasing another one in the future,” said Carelli in the briefing.

“We are increasing our added value in that field, and we are extending our technology for more integration,” said Chabbert. “We’re going in as the OEM to provide superior kind of offering with a smoother, nicer, in fact, more rigorous integration of what is actually quite complex when it comes to avionics, and the integration with the avionics that we use, which is the Garmin G1000 on the Kodiak 900.”

Based on the ability to integrate FLIR (forward-looking infrared) cameras, MSAR or aperture radar, and lidar, coupled with its low operating cost per hour, Carelli outlined the success seen by the Kodiak 100 and 900 in this sector. “What we’re seeing is that a lot of these [public benefit] agencies are asking for the Kodiak by name because of all these characteristics, and we’re really seeing a growth in that market by word-of-mouth. We have two large demos coming up in the next couple months for two major agencies looking for that exactly.”

Update on Production Lines in Florida

Chabbert also provided the latest for the company’s investment in a production line for the TBM series and Kodiak 100 and 900 at the manufacturing facility in Stuart, Florida.

“We’re going to start with the TBM…. we are on time to start operations sometime in mid 2027. And as we go, we are hiring and we are training personnel. We are going to take them to Tarbes in the next few weeks, so that they can be familiarized with the TBM production process and take the project all the way from here in the U.S.”

Chabbert later clarified that the proof would be in a completed aircraft finishing its trip down the line, which he estimated for August 2027. Production rates would ramp up deliberately, with the ultimate goal being 30 per year. “There are a couple of conditions that will answer the question. Number one, I told my team, is that quality cannot be compromised. It has to be equal or better [to that at Tarbes]. So we have to demonstrate that it is equal or better first. And then numbers will come—probably easily—based on that number one, very important criteria.”

Any Update on Electric Plans?

For the past 5 years, Daher has stated its interest in producing some version of its product line in an electric or hybrid version, with the Eco-Pulse demonstrator consolidating many of those test programs with partners Safran and Airbus. The company’s proposed deadline to announce a path forward has been 2027, so it naturally follows that an answer may be imminent.

“We are in 2026, so we said I would come to 2027 to give you our conclusions about where do we want to go when it comes to sustainable aviation,” said Chabbert. “So the answer is… Yeah, we have some great ideas, and we are ready for Le Bourget [Paris Air Show 2027] to make some announcements. Electric is part of the solution, so we have a ‘more electric’ aircraft on the horizon.”

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