Daher Aircraft’s TBM 980 has been certified by Brazil’s ANAC airworthiness authority (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil), clearing the way for deliveries of the TBM airplane family’s latest version to owners and operators in this South American country and the surrounding region.
Equipped with Garmin’s third-generation G3000® PRIME integrated avionics suite and additional cabin comfort enhancements, the turboprop-powered TBM 980 was unveiled on January 15 at Tarbes, France following its certification by the European EASA and U.S. FAA airworthiness agencies.
Five TBM 980s have already been delivered to U.S. customers from Daher Aircraft’s final assembly line in Tarbes, France, along with the demonstrator airplane – which is based at Daher Aircraft’s U.S. headquarters site in Pompano Beach, Florida.
The initial TBM 980 for a Brazilian customer is scheduled for delivery in July.
With its “Fly Differently” tagline, Daher Aircraft highlights how the TBM 980 reshapes the flying experience for pilots and passengers alike, representing the sixth TBM 900-series variant developed since the company acquired the program in 2014.
Benefits of the G3000® PRIME avionics for TBM 980 owners/operators include its highly intuitive and refined interface that significantly improves cockpit ergonomics. Three 14-inch edge-to-edge touchscreen displays ensure 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.
The TBM 980’s passenger experience is further elevated in its digitally controlled cabin with new features that include an upgraded Passenger Comfort Display (PCD) with enroute flight data, and a factory-installed interface on the right-side cockpit visor area to enable satellite-based internet connectivity with the Starlink Mini terminal.
Daher Aircraft’s six-seat TBM aircraft family is perfectly tailored for the Brazilian market, combining operating efficiency with near jet-like speeds and excellent range that enables point-to-point flights across Brazil and South America – including airports that may be limited for jet-powered airplanes. Today, approximately 60 TBMs in the various versions are utilized by owners/operators in Brazil and the region.
As the ultimate turboprop-powered airplane for business and personal travel, the TBM 980 has a maximum cruise speed of 610 km/h (330 kts.) and a maximum 3,204-kilometer (1,730-nautical mile) range. It is powered by Pratt andamp; Whitney Canada’s advanced PT6E-66XT engine and Hartzell five-blade Raptor™ composite propeller, which are linked to the dual-channel digital e-throttle (Engine and Propeller Electronic Control System/EPECS).
Safety remains paramount aboard the TBM 980 with Daher Aircraft’s e-copilot® concentration of technological innovation and automated systems, proven across the TBM 900-series aircraft. This includes advanced weather detection, icing protection, flight envelope monitoring and the emergency descent mode, along with the game-changing HomeSafe™ emergency autoland functionality.
Daher Aircraft’s long-term commitment to the dynamic and expanding its presence in the Brazilian market was underscored by the company’s 2025 creation of a permanent operation at São Paulo, supporting the growing demand for the TBM and the company’s other airplane product line – the utility-category Kodiak 100 and Kodiak 900.
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