|
| |
John Hayes
Joined: 29 Jan 2006
Posts: 583
|
The Best TBMOPA Convention EVER!
 Posted:
Sun Jul 13, 2008 7:02 pm |
|
Behind the scenes, Bill Alberts, Andrew Knott, Roy Bliss, Tom Evernham, and many others have been hard at work to produce the best TBMOPA annual meeting ever! Heck, I've even done a little bit of work on it  . Now, I can hear everyone wondering: That's what you said last year--what makes this year so special? First, due (in part) to the generosity of Socata, TBMOPA has arranged to have the best arrival gift ever--a new cabin cover for every TBM owner who attends the meeting. The value of this gift alone exceeds the cost of registration! How do we do it you ask? One word: Volume. Of course, we hope to have enough for everyone; but, I suggest that you sign up early just to make sure. So now that I have your attention, let me tell you what else makes this year so special. We have been hard at work on the academic program to make it the best ever. We have Dick Rutan as our key note speaker, Tom Horne from AOPA will join us to discuss "The Worst Icing," Dr. David Strahle will give a special seminar about "The Miracle of Airbore NEXRAD Radar," along with our usual safety reviews, meetings with Socata and Pratt and Whitney, and our "Tips for New TBM Owners" seminar. Finally, the meeting will be held in beautiful Traverse City, Michigan which is reason enough alone to attend the meeting. Traverse City is an absolutely spectacular location for this five star event. In closing, let me extend a special invitation to all of our new owners. The TBMOPA convention is the place to be to learn all about your new TBM, to meet other owners, distributors, maintenance folks, Socata, and to see new products for the TBM. The seminars, social events, and location insures that everyone will have a great time. No owner of a TBM should miss this event so sign up early and I'll look forward to seeing everyone there from September 3-7. Don't miss it!
John
|
|
Tom Evernham
Joined: 08 Feb 2006
Posts: 211
|
Proposed Socata/Daher business structure
Posted:
Mon Jul 07, 2008 7:28 pm |
|
Many of you are aware that EADS has been planning the sale of some portion of Socata. There have been recent news reports that EADS is planning the sale of a majority interest in Socata to Daher. Jean-Michel Leonard, chairman and Nicolas Chabbert, president have made a special effort to inform TBMOPA of this activity. My understanding is that EADS wants to raise cash and still retain an interest in Socata as a supplier of aero structures to EADS. At the same time, Socata needs a partner that is capable of investing in the TBM and future general aviation aircraft development.
Over the next several weeks Socata and Daher will be working to formulate the details of this proposed business agreement. If that is successful, there will be several months of communication to unions and government before the deal can be finalized. It is possible that the new stakeholders will want to meet with executives from TBMOPA during the next several months and we will welcome that opportunity.
Obviously, every TBM owner is concerned about the future of Socata. We are vitally interested in the support of the TBM series aircraft and the continued development of evolutionary improvements as well as new products. We will want to make our voice heard as the owner organization for the TBM aircraft and we will be given an opportunity to do so. There can be down sides to business consolidations but there can also be opportunities for new product directions and even new financial resources for future developments.
We expect to meet with Socata executives as usual during AirVenture Oshkosh in conjunction with our regular TBMOPA board meeting and we will certainly welcome the ongoing participation of Socata in our annual convention activities this year in Traverse City, Michigan in September. We will also look forward to meeting the executives from Daher when the time is right.
Any TBM owner present at AirVenture on Wednesday, July 30th. Is welcome to join the TBMOPA board and Socata executives for lunch at the Hilton Garden Inn located on the northwest corner of the OshKosh airport. Lunch is planned for 12:00 noon. It would be good if you can respond to Andrew Knott (Andrew@tbmowners.org) if you plan to join us for lunch. This is not required but it will help our planning.
Just so you know, I have been assured that Socata will continue there highest priority efforts to solve problems with the vapor cycle cooling compressor drive system on late model TBM850 aircraft and will maintain their commitment for a revised landing gear maintenance program to be announced at the convention. Socata is also a major sponsor and presenter for the upcoming convention and I am sure we will hear all the details of these and other programs and the new Socata business structure at the convention this year.
|
|
|
| |
|
Airventure 2008 - Oshkosh, WI |
Mon. Jul 28, 2008 - Sun. Aug 03, 2008 |
|
2008 TBMOPA Convention - Traverse City, Michigan |
Wed. Sep 03, 2008 - Sun. Sep 07, 2008 |
|
|
