Photos and video: Jean Marie Urlacher/Daher
19 January 2026
+VIDEO Daher has introduced the latest version of its TBM single-engine turboprop, the TBM 980, with deliveries set to begin this month following EASA certification and FAA validation.
The aircraft was unveiled last week at Daher Aircraft’s TBM production facility in Tarbes, France.
The headline changes are the adoption of Garmin’s third-generation G3000 PRIME avionics suite – and an option to install Starlink internet access.
The flight deck features three 14-inch edge-to-edge touchscreen displays, replacing the previous generation system and aiming to reduce pilot workload through an app-based interface, customisable presets and simplified access to key functions such as radios, flight planning and procedures.
A new four-position joystick replaces the traditional checklist button, allowing scrolling and confirmation without navigating menus. The avionics package also includes Garmin’s GWX 8000 all-digital weather radar with StormOptix technology, as well as HomeSafe emergency autoland, emergency descent mode and flight envelope protection as part of Daher’s e-copilot system.
The TBM 980 retains the PT6E-66XT turboprop engine introduced on the TBM 960, controlled by FADEC and driving a five-blade Hartzell composite propeller. Like the 960, the aircraft is approved for ‘PRIST-free’ operations, meaning there’s no need for fuel system anti-icing additives.
In the cabin, Daher has focused on connectivity and passenger convenience. The six-seat interior can be equipped with a factory-installed Starlink Mini satellite internet terminal, alongside 100-watt USB-C charging ports and an upgraded passenger information display showing en-route flight data.
Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of Daher Aircraft, said the TBM 980 was designed to make the aircraft “more intuitive and easier to operate” for pilots while improving the passenger experience.
The TBM 980 becomes the sixth aircraft launched in the TBM 900 series since Daher acquired TBM in 2014, and is the first to be certified under the Daher Aircraft legal entity following a recent restructuring of the group.
As of the end of 2025, a total of 1,294 TBM aircraft had been delivered worldwide.
