The TBM Owners and Pilots Association (TBMOPA) met in late September in Nashville for the association’s 2022 convention, attracting owners of all versions of the TBM.
The four-day get-together, which included informative sessions, safety-related briefings, and networking, attracted more than 320 people, according to officials with Daher, who co-sponsored the convention.
Many of those attending arrived aboard 85 TBMs at Smyrna Airport (KMQY). All TBM versions were present, from earlier-production TBM 700s and TBM 850s to the TBM 900, TBM 910, TBM 930, TBM 940, and the newest TBM 960 version, according to officials.
During three days of sessions customized for TBM owners, a range of presentations from vendors were complemented by informative briefings, including the implementation of performance-based navigation (PBN), outlined by Hughes Aerospace Corporation’s Chris Baur; interpreting the weather, detailed by Dr. Scott Dennstaedt, a CFI and former meteorologist; and maintenance tips explained by TBM owner and former astronaut John Grunsfeld.
Activities for spouses and companions of TBM pilots and owners were given a new dimension at this year’s convention with an updated interactive ground school organized by Jim Tuley, an airline pilot and TBMOPA’s safety consultant, officials added.
During the 2022 TBMOPA Convention’s live auction, $120,000 was raised for the TBMOPA Foundation, a 501(c)(3) charity that contributes to the future of aviation through scholarships for aspiring pilots, including disabled individuals and veterans, as well as providing support for organizations that donate airlift services to help those in need.
The foundation also runs the TBM Safety Seminar program, and developed the TIPS advanced training program for TBM pilots’ recurrent training.
With Daher’s purchase of the Kodiak aircraft, TBMOPA is now opening the association’s membership to Kodiak owners. TBMOPA has proposed an initial six-month complementary membership, and 15 Kodiak owner have accepted this offer so far, association officials report.
The 2023 TBMOPA annual convention will be held in Colorado Springs, Colorado, from Sept. 6 to 10.