Daher senior v-p Nicolas Chabbert said his company was gratified by its strong first-half 2016 sales showing, delivering 26 TBM 900-series aircraft. Of this, 45 percent were TBM 900s while 55 percent were TBM 930s with the newer touchscreen avionics.

To date, the company has handed over 124 TBM 900 series—93 in North America and 12 in Europe. In total, 786 TBMs have been delivered to date, and Chabbert noted that the company plans to deliver the 800th in September.

Chabbert said the 900 series is selling particularly well in Europe, with sales up "threefold" over typical levels. The TBM Care five-year warranty program combined with the speedy incorporation of the latest avionics advances—including angle-of-attack indication, electronic stability protection, underspeed protection and emergency descent mode—had all helped to drive sales, according to Chabbert.

He said the company will renew its focus on improving the comfort of the aircraft, including adding a side-facing, quick-change, marine-style, electric-flushing toilet as a $35,000 option beginning on 2017 models. Installation of the toilet requires removal of the two rear seats.

The lav is designed with a padded surround, personal item stowage, courtesy mirror, cabin soundproofing and a screened privacy enclosure than can be deployed. The entire package is branded as "Elite Privacy" and has been some 18 months in development.

There are plans to make it available for retrofit for older models. Chabbert called the addition of the toilet a "game changer" that, combined with relaxed EASA charter rules governing single-engine charter aircraft, should make TBMs more popular in Europe.

"A toilet is required for commercial charter operations. We're going to provide the best and most comfortable interior in this class of aircraft," Chabbert said. "We are going to be thinking more about the passengers. You can be in this cabin for up to five hours."

Based on customer feedback, Daher will continue to produce both the TBM 900 and 930, Chabbert said, to "provide customers with a choice" of avionics interface preferences. "We try not to impose our preferences on our customers. We deliver what people want,” he said.

"There is a clear acceleration in this program. In the first 15 years, we delivered 324 TBM 700s. In the last 10 years we have delivered many more TBM 850s and 900s," he said. Some 65 TBM owners have checked in with the company this week at EAA AirVenture 2016, and approximately 45 TBM aircraft are parked on the airshow grounds.