Australia’s Wagga Air Centre Demonstrates the TBM Aircraft’s Versatility in Fast, Efficient Charter Operations
Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia, October 19, 2015 – Wagga Air Centre, the first Australian air charter company to operate the TBM 850, has successfully completed its initial quarter of commercial activity with the very fast turboprop aircraft – logging an initial 60 flight hours throughout Australia.
The TBM 850 currently operated by Wagga Air Centre is owned by Dr. Paul Mara, a rural generalist doctor, health consultant and company director from Gundagai, New South Wales. By leasing his airplane to Wagga Air Centre, he enabled the TBM 850 to enter commercial charter activity so that other businesses can benefit from the aircraft’s speed, efficiency and performance.
“Renting the TBM 850 provides an excellent opportunity to make this aircraft available for charters when not being used for my business,” explained Dr. Mara, who described the TBM 850’s speed and range as well-adapted to the operating environment in Australia. “We really need airplanes such as the TBM that offer safe, flexible, and reliable transportation to fly across our large country. With its range and the ability to perform from smaller runways, it can be used to reach far-away areas such as Perth, Broken Hill, Adelaide, Darwin, Alice Springs, Roma, Inglewood, and Lord Howe Island, along with the remote aboriginal community of Tunjunjara.”
Through his various activities, Dr. Mara – who served for many years as president of the Rural Doctors Association of Australia (RDAA) – has flown extensively, logging more than 500 flight hours in the TBM 850 during the past two years.
Australia’s Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has approved TBM 850 for public transportation of passengers and freight in all flight conditions, according to ASETPA (Approved Single Engine Turbine Powered Aircraft) rules. Wagga Air Centre is the first to apply for, and receive, such approval.
“We salute the partnership of Wagga Air Centre and Doctor Mara, which has facilitated highlyattractive air charter operations with the TBM 850 in Australia,” commented Nicolas Chabbert, Senior Vice President of Daher’s Airplane Business Unit. “We expect to see more TBMs serving remote areas of Australia in a near future.”
Chris Cabot, the managing director at Wagga Air Centre, said Australian clients are increasingly disillusioned by the awkward and sometimes irregular schedules associated with airline travel, and recognized business travelers’ intolerance for security checks and other time-consuming challenges faced during airline trips.
“Wagga Air Centre now offers a personal and convenient solution with the TBM and its low operating costs." Cabot added. “The aircraft that we use – named ‘Elle’ after famous Australian top model Elle MacPherson – allows us to offer direct flights to 4 passengers on flights such as Wagga Wagga to Cairns (2,032 km./1,100 nm.) in only 3.8 flight hours.”
About Wagga Air Centre - www.waggaaircentre.com.au
Wagga Air Centre is a family owned and operated aircraft charter and flight training facility, operating since 1990 in the Riverina and far North Queensland areas, providing safe and comfortable air travel. It runs a fleet of 12 aircraft and one helicopter, providing a night-flight return service to 15 regional ports on the eastern seaboard 250 days a year.
About the TBM – www.tbm.aero
Daher’s TBM is a family of very fast single-engine turboprop aircraft. The TBM 900 is its latest member which offers superior performance – a maximum cruise speed of 330 kts. – and high efficiency with a 1,730 naut. mi. maximum range and a fuel consumption at economy cruise of 37 U.S. gallons per hour. This results from aerodynamic improvements, along with other aircraft enhancements. The maximum range and useful load, as well as the ability to land at small airports, are some of its customers’ favorite features. As of October 15, 2015, deliveries of TBM 900s brought the total number of TBM-series aircraft received by customers to 750, with this global fleet accumulating more than 1.2 million flight hours.
About Daher - www.daher.com
Daher is an equipment supplier developing Integrated Industrial systems for aerospace and advanced technologies.
By combining its expertise in industrial manufacturing, product and process engineering, logistics and transport, and industrial services, Daher designs and develops Integrated Industrial Systems. Daher has established itself as a leader in 5 fields of activity: aircraft manufacturer, aerostructures and systems, integrated logistics, nuclear services, and valves.
Daher posts annual turnover of nearly one billion euros, and its order book stands at around three and a half years of turnover. Driven by bold innovation ever since it was founded in 1863, Daher has established itself today as one of the major players of the 3rd industrial revolution.
