Daher Socata TBM 930

The Daher Socata TBM 930 is the version of the French TBM 900 with a Garmin G3000 cockpit that the pilot operates through touchscreens. The airframe, the PT6A-66D engine, the cabin and the performance are the same as in the TBM 910, which has the simpler G1000 NXi avionics. Most TBMs in Europe belong to private owners or companies, and only some operators hold a licence to fly them in charter, so we look for a specific aircraft with each request.

Behind the pilot the TBM 930 has four club seats, and a fifth passenger can sit in the cockpit. Zurich to Lugano takes 0:48 h, Paris to Chambéry 1:18 h. The aircraft copes well with high airfields, but one engine brings special rules after dark and in cloud.

Cabin: four seats, no standing room and an optional toilet

The whole pressurised cabin, cockpit included, is 4.05 m long, 1.21 m wide and 1.22 m high. It feels more like a large car than a jet: you sit comfortably but do not stand up. You board through a wide door in the side, and the baggage space is behind the four seats.

The TBM 930 has no galley and no flight attendant, so food is ordered cold. Internet is rare and depends on the aircraft. The propeller is clearly audible, louder than jet engines.

Baggage, skis and pets

Most of the TBM 930 baggage goes behind the seats in the pressurised cabin, and a small compartment in the nose is loaded from outside. Large hard suitcases are difficult to fit, so soft bags work better.

On a ski trip to the Alps:

• with four passengers there is room for small suitcases and bags
• with two passengers and the rear seats removed, skis, boots and golf bags fit
• give the number of ski bags in the request so the operator can work out the weight

Mountain airfields and the G3000 cockpit

The TBM 930 flies at up to 611 km/h at 8,534 m and has a maximum altitude of 9,449 m. The range of 3,204 km applies at an economy speed of 467 km/h, with one pilot and a 45-minute reserve; at 604 km/h it drops to 2,667 km.

At sea level the TBM 930 take-off needs 726 m and the landing 741 m to and from 15 m height. According to Daher, about 1,200 m of runway is enough even at an airfield at 2,400 m elevation when it is 30 degrees warmer than standard. Airfields this opens up:

The G3000 cockpit has three wide screens and a touch controller. The e-copilot safety package adds:

• an angle of attack indicator
• protection against stalling and loss of stability
• an emergency descent mode that takes the aircraft lower if cabin pressure drops and the pilot does not react

Single-engine rules in Europe

EU rules allow a commercial flight in a single-engine aircraft at night or in cloud only for an operator with a SET-IMC approval. The operator has to prove the engine's reliability in the world fleet, monitor its parameters, carry extra equipment such as a second independent power source and weather radar, and have procedures for a forced landing. A pilot flying alone in these conditions needs at least 700 flight hours on aeroplanes.

Domestic legs such as Vienna - Salzburg or Madrid - Ibiza need an EU operator, because operators from outside the EU normally cannot fly within one EU country; London - Edinburgh needs a UK operator.

TBM 930 routes from European hubs

Thirty one-way legs from all thirteen hubs without a stop, from Zurich - Lugano at 164 km to London - Palma at 1,332 km. Prices are for the whole aircraft with pilot, before airport fees and passenger taxes. Flight time is based on the great-circle distance plus taxi, climb and approach.

Up to two hours: Alpine airfields, lakes and short sea crossings

Two to four hours: long for a small cabin

Legs of up to two hours, such as Milan - Innsbruck (0:58 h) or Hamburg - Samedan (1:55 h), are where the TBM 930 does best: a lower hourly rate than a jet and access to mountain airfields. London - Cannes (2:21 h) and London - Palma (2:53 h) are long for this cabin, so the toilet and the weight have to be checked.

The calculator shows an indicative price for the TBM 930 or another class of aircraft on your route, including smaller airfields with turbine fuel.

TBM 930 charter price

Operators charge from EUR 2,000 per flight hour for the aircraft, pilot and fuel. A short leg still costs more than that rate multiplied by its time, because taxi, climb and approach take the same time on any leg and the operator adds positioning and a minimum charge: Zurich - Lugano lasts 0:48 h and costs from EUR 5,500.

From two hours upwards the total gets closer to the rate. Paris - Calvi (2:03 h) costs from EUR 8,000 and London - Palma (2:53 h) from EUR 10,000. Above three hours a light jet is worth a comparison, as the difference is smaller than the hourly rates suggest.

Split between the passengers, Paris - Chambéry costs per person:

Paying less for a TBM 930

• Book an aircraft based in or near your departure country, which removes most of the positioning
• Plan departures in daylight, so operators without SET-IMC can quote as well
• Return on the same day when the trip allows, as on Zurich - Chambéry or Frankfurt - Sion
• Accept a TBM 910 or TBM 940, which give almost the same flight

Empty Legs: occasional on this type

Empty TBM 930 legs come up now and then, mostly in summer between northern Italy, Switzerland, the Riviera and Sardinia. With so few aircraft in charter they are hard to plan around; discounts of 30-60% are examples, not guaranteed.

TBM 930, TBM 910, TBM 940 or a jet

The common alternatives are the sister versions of the TBM and the smallest jets at a similar price per route.

How to book

Tell us:

• where from, where to and when
• how many people fly and what they carry, skis and golf bags included
• if the flight is in the evening or lasts more than two hours, as this decides the operator and the aircraft
• the mountain airfield you have in mind, so we check training and approvals

We always try to find a TBM 930 or one of its sister versions close to your departure, but each case depends on the operator's availability and contract.

Questions about the Daher Socata TBM 930

• • How much does a TBM 930 cost to charter?

  • From EUR 2,000 per flight hour. According to the table, Paris - Chambéry costs from EUR 6,500, Geneva - Olbia from EUR 7,500 and London - Palma from EUR 10,000 for the whole aircraft one way, before airport fees and taxes.

• • What does the price consist of?

  • Flight time with fuel and pilot, positioning, airport and handling fees, passenger taxes, winter de-icing and the pilot's hotel on a multi-day trip.

• • Why does a 48-minute flight cost so much?

  • Taxi, climb and approach take the same time on any leg, and the operator adds positioning and a minimum charge. That is why Zurich - Lugano costs from EUR 5,500, while Hamburg - Samedan, more than twice as long, costs from EUR 8,000.

• • How can I pay less?

  • Fly in daylight so more operators can quote, return the same day where possible and accept a TBM 910 or TBM 940. Empty Legs help when your dates match.

• • Are there Empty Legs on the TBM 930?

  • Now and then, mostly in summer on short legs between northern Italy, Switzerland, the Riviera and Sardinia. Discounts of 30-60% are possible as examples, and the leg can be withdrawn if the aircraft gets a full charter.

• • How many people can fly?

  • Up to five with one pilot: four in the cabin and one in the cockpit. An aircraft with the Elite Privacy toilet takes four. On longer legs the realistic limit is three people with light bags.

• • Does the TBM 930 have a toilet?

  • Only aircraft with the Elite Privacy option, where the rear bench becomes an enclosed compartment. Others have no toilet, so before a leg of more than two hours we ask the operator about the equipment.

• • How far can it fly, and how many ski bags fit?

  • Daher quotes 3,204 km at economy speed; the longest TBM 930 leg in the table is London - Palma (2:53 h). With two passengers and the rear seats removed, skis and boots for two fit; with four on board a PC-12 with its cargo door is often the better choice.

• • Can the aircraft land at mountain airfields?

  • At many of them: Samedan, Innsbruck and Chambéry are in the table, although on a hot day at a high airfield the operator may limit the load. Courchevel needs a special approval for operator and pilot.

• • Can I bring my dog?

  • Usually yes, in the cabin next to you, once the operator has agreed. Give the breed, weight and carrier size, and bring the EU pet passport with a valid rabies vaccination.