Daher Socata TBM 850

The Daher Socata TBM 850 is a French single-engine turboprop with a Pratt & Whitney Canada PT6A-66D and a pressurised cabin. It grew out of the TBM 700, and its name comes from the engine: 700 hp for take-off, 850 hp in cruise. Four club seats sit behind the cockpit, and with one pilot a fifth passenger takes the right-hand front seat.

At up to 593 km/h it is one of the quickest single-engine turboprops: Geneva - Lugano takes 0:54 h, Zurich - Cannes 1:20 h. Most TBMs belong to owners who fly them themselves, so only a handful are available for charter, and with each request we also look at other aircraft of this class.

Cabin: four seats behind the pilot, no toilet as a rule

The pressurised TBM 850 cabin is 4.05 m long including the cockpit, 1.21 m wide and 1.22 m high, with no wall or door between pilot and passengers. Standing up is impossible and you move to your seat bent over, but seated there is plenty of room for legs and head. You board through a large door on the left side.

The four-blade propeller is clearly audible, louder than a jet. Internet on board is rare and depends on the aircraft.

Baggage, skis and pets

The main TBM 850 baggage area is behind the rear seats inside the pressurised cabin, with a net and straps. A smaller locker in the nose, behind the engine, takes a few more bags from outside. With four passengers a sensible load is one small suitcase and one bag per person; soft bags fit better than large hard cases.

Skis, golf bags and animals:

• skis and golf bags fit, but take the place of one rear seat
• a dog or cat flies in the cabin with the owner once the operator agrees; give breed, weight and carrier size
• EU travel needs a microchip, a rabies vaccination at least 21 days before travel and an EU pet passport; the UK, Ireland, Malta, Finland and Norway also want tapeworm treatment 1-5 days before entry

Speed, short runways and the single engine

The PT6A-66D is limited to 700 hp for take-off and 850 hp in cruise. The TBM 850 reaches 593 km/h at 7,925 m, climbs there in about 15 minutes and has a ceiling of 9,449 m. Range grows from 2,611 km at maximum speed to 2,935 km at an economy 467 km/h. Early aircraft have older avionics, later ones the integrated Garmin G1000.

Daher gives about 866 m for take-off and about 741 m for landing. That opens airfields where a jet does not always go, although in summer heat or on a short runway the operator may reduce the take-off weight:

SET-IMC and other European rules

One engine brings separate rules in the EU. A commercial flight with passengers at night or in cloud is allowed only for an operator holding a SET-IMC approval, which requires proof of the engine's reliability across the world fleet, continuous engine monitoring, extra equipment such as a second power source and weather radar, and forced-landing procedures. Without it, passengers fly only in daylight and good visibility.

• Single pilot: the TBM 850 is certified for one pilot, who needs at least 700 flight hours among other requirements
• Private aircraft: an owner without an AOC cannot sell a flight, even if the aircraft is parked at the same airport
• Winter: with darkness in the late afternoon, a return from Samedan or Sion in a TBM 850 may not work with an operator without SET-IMC, so we agree the times first
• Domestic legs: Madrid - Palma needs an EU operator and London - Edinburgh a UK one

TBM 850 routes from European hubs

Thirty-one one-way legs from all thirteen hubs, each without a fuel stop with a typical load, from Milan Linate - Sion at 174 km to London - Palma at 1,332 km. Prices are for the whole aircraft with pilot, without airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is calculated on the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: the TBM's home ground

Two to three hours: fine for three people with light bags

Legs under two hours, such as Nice - Calvi (0:50 h) or Zurich - Olbia (1:51 h), are where the TBM 850 costs least compared with a jet, which would save little time there. Paris - Calvi (2:06 h) and London - Saint-Tropez (2:26 h) are fine for three people, while London - Palma (2:57 h) closes the table: without a toilet and with a full cabin it is long.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the TBM 850 or another type on your own route, including smaller airfields with turbine fuel.

TBM 850 charter price

The rate starts at EUR 2,000 per flight hour for the aircraft with pilot and fuel. A short leg costs more than this rate multiplied by its time, because taxi, climb and approach are the same on every flight and the operator adds positioning and a minimum charge: Nice - Calvi takes 0:50 h and costs from EUR 5,500.

With longer legs the price per hour falls. Zurich - Olbia (1:51 h) costs from EUR 7,500, Paris - Calvi (2:06 h) from EUR 8,000 and London - Palma (2:57 h) from EUR 10,000. The price is for the whole aircraft whatever the number of people.

Per person, Geneva - Saint-Tropez works out as follows:

Ways to lower the price

• Choose an aircraft based near your departure; we check every TBM operator in the region
• Fly in daylight, so that operators without SET-IMC can quote too
• Return the same day on short legs such as Geneva - Lugano or Milan - Sion
• Accept a TBM 910 or TBM 940 instead of a TBM 850: same cabin, slightly faster, and the price per route differs little

Empty Legs: rare on this version

Empty TBM 850 legs are rare because few aircraft fly charter in Europe. They are best searched together with the other TBMs, on short summer legs between northern Italy, Switzerland, the Riviera and Sardinia; discounts of 30-60% are examples, not guaranteed.

Newer TBMs, the PC-12 or a small jet

Clients asking for a TBM 850 usually compare it with a later version of the family, a larger single-engine turboprop or a small twin-engine jet.

How to book

Send us the route, date and time, the number of people and their bags. If the flight ends after dark or lasts over two hours, say so at once: we then look only at operators with SET-IMC and check the toilet question.

We always try to find a TBM 850 or a sister version close to your departure, but each case depends on the operator's availability and contract.

Questions about the Daher Socata TBM 850

• • How much does a TBM 850 charter cost?

  • From EUR 2,000 per flight hour. In the table Geneva - Lugano costs from EUR 6,000, Madrid - Palma from EUR 7,000 and London - Saint-Tropez from EUR 9,000 for the whole aircraft one way, before airport fees and passenger taxes.

• • What is in the price and what comes on top?

  • The aircraft, the pilot and fuel are included. Positioning, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, catering, winter de-icing and the pilot's hotel on a multi-day trip are added in the quote.

• • How can the flight cost less?

  • Fly in daylight so more operators can quote, return the same day on short legs and accept a TBM 910 or TBM 940 if no TBM 850 is near your departure. Empty Legs help when the dates match.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the TBM 850?

  • Rarely, as few aircraft fly charter. We search them together with the other TBM versions, mostly on short summer legs; 30-60% discounts are examples, and the leg can be cancelled.

• • How many people fit in a TBM 850?

  • Up to five with one pilot: four in the cabin and one in the cockpit. With full tanks about 422 kg remain including the pilot, so three or four people travel best.

• • Does the TBM 850 have a toilet?

  • Usually not. An enclosed toilet came only with later TBM 900 series aircraft as an option. For legs over two hours we plan around this or offer an aircraft with a toilet.

• • How far does it fly without a stop?

  • Daher gives 2,935 km at economy speed. The longest leg in the table is London - Palma (2:57 h, 1,332 km); with a full cabin the operator plans with reserves, so longer trips call for a jet.

• • Is a single-engine aircraft allowed to fly at night?

  • It is certified for instrument flight by day and night, but a charter at night or in cloud needs an operator with SET-IMC approval. We check this before confirming the flight.

• • Can it land at La Môle or Courchevel?

  • La Môle near Saint-Tropez and Lugano are in the table; the operator confirms each airfield for its aircraft, and La Môle may bring weight limits in summer heat. The Courchevel altiport is too short for the type; the usual alternative is Chambéry.

• • Can I take my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin, once the operator has agreed. A large dog in a carrier takes the place of a rear seat. Bring the EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination.