WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, West Virginia — The TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) has wrapped up its 2021 annual convention, bringing together owners of Daher’s TBM and the supplier community for four days of informative sessions, safety-related briefings, and networking.
With more than 280 attendees present at West Virginia’s Greenbrier Hotel for the Sept. 22-25 event — and 101 TBMs flown into nearby Greenbrier Valley Airport — this year’s convention underscored the annual TBMOPA gathering’s importance as one of the largest meetings for a turboprop-powered general aviation aircraft type, according to Daher officials.
“TBM aviators came out in full force for this year’s convention, once again underscoring their enthusiasm for aviation and their commitment to safe flying,” said Nicolas Chabbert, senior vice president of Daher’s Aircraft Division.
Among the suppliers and vendors making presentations were Garmin, Pratt & Whitney Canada, and ForeFlight.
Activities at the TBMOPA Convention included a ground school program organized by Goldberg Aviation for companions of TBM owners, providing insights on how they can contribute to safe flight operations by serving as an informed set of “eyes and ears” for the pilot.
The convention’s live auction raised a record amount of $207,000 for the TBMOPA Foundation, a non-profit charity organized to keep TBM pilots safe and to safeguard the future of aviation through selected scholarships for tomorrow’s pilots, including disabled individuals and veterans. The foundation also runs safety seminars and developed the TIPS advanced training program for TBM pilots.
The next TBMOPA convention will be held in Nashville, Tennessee from Sept. 21-25, 2022.