TBM Owners Focus on Safety at Annual Convention

The TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) focused on sound aeronautical decision-making during its 2026 Annual Convention in Phoenix, Arizona.

A total of 78 turboprops flew into Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport (KPHX) for the three-day gathering, representing the full fleet family, including the TBM 700, TBM 850, and TBM 900 series, according to association officials. Aircraft arrived from across the United States, Canada, the Bahamas, Switzerland, and South Africa, including nine newly delivered TBM 980s.

The convention addressed critical choices pilots face before and during flight, from go/no-go determinations to hazard identification and risk mitigation. Interactive sessions brought owners together to discuss real-world scenarios and practical decision-making techniques.

Nigel Packham, a former NASA associate director of safety, opened the program with an analysis of critical decisions surrounding the 2003 Columbia space shuttle accident.

“Flight safety is a responsibility that we all share, and this year’s convention once again demonstrated what can be achieved when owners, operators, and the wider TBM community come together with a common purpose,” said JJ Suarez, TBMOPA chairman.

“TBMOPA and its members are to be applauded for the commitment to advancing flight safety, especially as the TBM in-service fleet and its aviator community continue to grow,” said Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft.

The event also featured the first graduating class of the TBM Advanced Aviator Program (TAAP), a voluntary initiative establishing annual training and proficiency standards.

Additionally, the annual auction raised $360,000 to support aviation scholarships and safety seminars administered by the TBMOPA Foundation.

For more information: TBM.aero, Daher.com