Socata reveals its plans for a new aircraft project

EADS Socata today unveiled initial information on the company's next generation aircraft project, providing details at a news conference with Chairman and CEO Jean-Michel Léonard during the National Business Aviation Association's 61st Annual Meeting & Convention.

Code-named NTx, the new aircraft will be larger than the company's highly successful Very Fast Turboprop TBM 850, and aims at completing Socata's range on the upper end. Using a twin-engine configuration to offer a large scope of potential applications, the NTx will have greater useful load, more payload capability and a bigger cabin than the TBM 850. Powerplant applications for the NTx are still under discussion. Although, the launch date is not yet determined, the manufacturer is working on a schedule and expects to be able to officially launch the program before the end of 2009.

"As business aviation is a small community where it's difficult to keep a secret for a long time, I am pleased to confirm that our engineering team is actively working on a new aircraft project," Léonard said. "Its NTx code-name stands for 'New Twin.' This aircraft is an exciting project that we hope to launch in 2009 to complement the TBM850 from the top. We believe the general aviation market will welcome our project, which will build on the current success of the TBM 850."