Page 47 - January 15 Volume 19 Number 1

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EN ROUTE
TBM Owners and Pilots Association
2014 Convention Still Rising
Another record-breaking TBMOPA Convention brings 107 TBM aircraft to New Orleans’ Lakefront airport 111 owners, 30 vendors and over 330 attendees were present at the event
DAHER-SOCATA and the TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) announced that the 2014 TBMOPA convention broke another attendance record with the presence of more than 100 TBM 700s and TBM 850s, along with several brand-new TBM 900s.
Attracting almost a quarter of the entire TBM fleet in North America, this became the largest fly-in convention dedicated to a single-engine turbine aircraft or small private jet – registering a 3% increase in attendance from last year.
The 2014 TBMOPA Convention was held from October 29 to November 1 in historic New Orleans, Louisiana, with aircraft accommodated at the city’s Lakefront Airport. The meeting included three days of dynamic academic sessions customized for the TBM aircraft family, featuring presentations by industry leaders and DAHER-SOCATA, as well as TBM system vendors like Pratt and Whitney, Canada.
Among the speakers were Jerry Cockrell, whose discussion was entitled: “How to Exercise Poor Judgment and Survive;” Earl F. Weener, a Member of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), speaking on general aviation safety; and Bill Panarello, addressing characteristics of the TBM radar system. The guest speaker was U.S. Air Force Capt. Brian Udell, who recounted how he bailed out of his F-15 fighter aircraft at over 800 mph.
As with the association’s previous annual conventions, participation in the technical sessions qualified members for savings on insurance premiums that are exclusive to TBMOPA.
Pilot companions were offered activities at the event as well, including a visit to Oak Alley plantation – a preserved historic mansion of the Old South’s golden age – as well as a “pinch hitter” flight training program designed for non-pilot companions.
“The 2014 TBMOPA convention marked our best turnout to date, and enabled the TBMOPA ‘family’ to take part in much-appreciated safety seminars and sessions relating to operational techniques,” explained Frank McKee, the Chairman and Director of TBMOPA. “Once again, our annual event offered an excellent way
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JANUARY 2015
TWIN & TURBINE • 45