The aircraft was unveiled on 15 January 2026 at the Daher Aircraft Division headquarters and TBM production facility in Tarbes, France, during an event attended by customers, partners, officials and company employees. The launch was also broadcast to a global audience via live stream.

 

According to Nicolas Chabbert, CEO of the Daher Aircraft Division, the TBM 980’s guiding principle, Fly Differently, reflects a fundamental shift in how pilots and passengers experience the aircraft. The touchscreen-controlled flight deck introduces a new level of interaction between pilots and avionics, while passenger comfort is enhanced through updated cabin features.

 These include the capability to install a Starlink Mini terminal for satellite-based internet connectivity, 100-watt USB-C charging ports and an upgraded Passenger Comfort Display providing enroute information.

 

Airworthiness certification for the TBM 980 has been granted by both the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) and the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), enabling Daher to begin customer deliveries during January.

 

The TBM 980 represents the sixth aircraft launched by Daher within the TBM 900-series since the company acquired the TBM product line in 2014. Didier Kayat, Daher Chairman and CEO, noted that the introduction underlines the company’s long-term commitment to the continued evolution of the TBM family through sustained innovation and close collaboration with key suppliers.

 

At the core of the aircraft is Garmin’s G3000® PRIME avionics suite, featuring a refined and highly intuitive interface designed to improve cockpit ergonomics. Three 14-inch edge-to-edge touchscreen displays provide integrated control of flight functions, while pilot workload is reduced through customisable presets and a streamlined user interface.

 

The TBM 980 also incorporates performance and efficiency features drawn from Daher’s best-selling TBM 960. These include Pratt & Whitney Canada’s PT6E-66XT intelligent turboprop engine and a five-blade Hartzell composite propeller, both managed through a Full Authority Digital Engine Control (FADEC) system.

 

Safety remains a central focus, supported by Daher Aircraft’s e-copilot® suite of automated systems already proven across the TBM 900-series. These include advanced weather detection, icing protection, flight envelope monitoring and emergency descent mode, as well as the HomeSafe™ emergency autoland capability.

 

Connectivity aboard the TBM 980 is delivered through a comprehensive package of subscription-based digital services. These include Garmin PlaneSyncâ„¢ for remote aircraft activation, status monitoring and automated database updates via the Me & My TBM application, alongside compatibility with Garmin Pilotâ„¢ and ForeFlight, Jeppesen databases and SiriusXM weather and audio services.

 

As of 31 December 2025, a total of 1,294 TBM aircraft had been delivered worldwide, underscoring the continued global demand for the high-performance turboprop family as it enters its latest chapter with the TBM 980.