Following the first delivery of a TBM 940 to Danish customer Jacob Sørensen, Daher has appointed Uni-Fly A/S as a new network service centre for the TBM, providing Scandinavian coverage from Denmark's Hans Christian Andersen airport near the city of Odense.

Founded in 1970, Uni-Fly's entry in the TBM network marks a further extension of this company's maintenance capabilities for both fixed wing aircraft and helicopters. It is approved by the European EASA airworthiness authority as a Part 145 maintenance organisation.

“With growing interest in Scandinavia for the TBM, based on its efficiency, range and performance, it is important to ensure Daher's top-rated support and services are available in this region,” explains senior vice president of Daher's aircraft division Nicolas Chabbert. “Our partnership with Uni-Fly will be a true asset in supporting TBM customers and operators in northern Europe.”

Sørensen is the president of Stål & Plast, a company manufacturing irrigation systems utilised in greenhouse farming with headquarters and production in Ringe, Denmark and a US production facility in Sycamore, Illinois. A graduate in mechanical engineering, he developed a passion for aviation in his childhood. He obtained his private pilot’s license in 2008, and owned several single engine piston aircraft that he flew to visit customers after qualifying for an instrument rating. He soon decided to upgrade to his first turboprop aircraft.

“Entering the turboprop world opens new opportunities with speed: in three hours, you’re 700 miles away,” he explains. “Suddenly, Europe became smaller…and you start thinking: ‘Why not fly longer distances with less fuel stops?’”

Sørensen purchased the TBM 940 after learning about the benefits of Daher’s TBM Total Care Program and the HomeSafe emergency autoland system. He received his EASA-approved TBM rating training course last December at Daher’s production facility in Tarbes, France, where he saw the TBM production and final assembly process. He will use the aircraft primarily for business travel needs within Europe. Once he logs more time, his goal is to cross the Atlantic to visit Stål & Plast’s US manufacturing site near Chicago.  

Uni-Fly is well known for its helicopter aerial work services, beginning with the support of geological and scientific expeditions in Denmark and Greenland. It subsequently expanded the rotary wing duties to such missions as the inspection of powerlines, oil and gas pipelines, as well as TV and telecommunications antennas. Other activities include the hoisting of maintenance personnel who work on wind turbines and the transportation of people and cargo to vessels and offshore installations.

“We are proud to join Daher's service centre network, and our entire team is committed to providing the best levels of maintenance services for TBM owners and operators,” says Uni-Fly maintenance manager for the TBM Per Leth Andersen.

Daher currently has a support network of 69 service centres around the world that are authorised for maintenance and support of its TBM and/or Kodiak turboprop-powered aircraft families, with an increasing number qualified for both aircraft types.