1 × PT6A turboprop · single-pilot · 330 kt on one engine
Every phase for the Daher TBM 900 / 940 / 960, as flown in a flight simulator — panel scans marked as flows, read-and-respond cards marked as checklists. Open the interactive version to tick lines off, fill in your speeds and keep your place between sessions.
TBM 900 — The first of the winglet-and-single-lever generation. Garmin G1000 and a lot of speed for the fuel.
TBM 930 — Same airframe with the G3000 touchscreen deck. Menus instead of knobs — know where the pages live before you need them.
TBM 940 — Adds autothrottle and automatic de-icing. The throttle does the engine limits so you can watch the aeroplane.
TBM 960 — PT6E-66XT with dual-channel FADEC and an electronic propeller. Start and power management are automated end to end.
Power Up Flow · from memory
BATTERYON — VOLTAGE CHECKED
EXT PWRAS REQUIRED
AVIONICSON
EMERGENCY / ELTARMED
FUEL QUANTITYL / R CHECKED
PARKING BRAKESET
Preflight Scan Flow · from memory
POWER LEVERIDLE
CONDITION LEVERTBM 900 / TBM 930 / TBM 940CUT OFF
The 960 does without it — the PT6E runs on one lever and its own FADEC.
FUEL SELECTORFULLEST TANK — AUTO
INERTIAL SEPARATORAS REQUIRED
ICE PROTECTIONBOOTS · PROP · WINDSHIELD CHECKED
Known-ice approved, but this is a small aeroplane with a lot of speed. Ice costs more here than it looks like it should.
OXYGENCHECKED — MASK IN REACH
FL310 single pilot. Cannula rules and mask discipline are the whole safety case above the mid-twenties.
AVIONICSFLIGHT PLAN · WEATHER · FUEL LOADED
WEIGHT & CGWITHIN LIMITS
TRIMTAKEOFF SET
Before Start Checklist · read & respond
DOORCLOSED — HANDLE LOCKED
SEAT / HARNESSADJUSTED
CIRCUIT BREAKERSIN
FUEL____ LB — SUFFICIENT
FLIGHT INSTRUMENTSSET & CROSSCHECKED
ALTIMETER____ SET
TAKEOFF BRIEFINGCOMPLETE
Brief it aloud. Where you put the nose if the engine stops, and at what height you turn back — decided on the ground, not at 400 ft.
BEACONON
PROPELLER AREACLEAR
Engine Start Flow · from memory
IGNITIONAUTO
STARTERENGAGED — Ng RISING
FUELTBM 900 / TBM 930 / TBM 940INTRODUCED AT 13% Ng
STARTTBM 960AUTOMATIC — MONITORED
One button on the 960. The FADEC schedules the start and aborts it itself if the temperature runs.
ITTMONITORED — WITHIN LIMITS
STARTEROFF — IDLE STABLE
GENERATORON — CHARGING
OIL PRESSURE / TEMPRISING — IN GREEN
EXTERNAL POWERDISCONNECTED
After Start Checklist · read & respond
GENERATORON — LOAD NORMAL
AIR CONDITIONING / BLEEDSET
PRESSURISATIONLANDING ELEV SET
FLIGHT CONTROLSFREE AND CORRECT
TRIMTAKEOFF SET
FLAPSTAKEOFF
ANNUNCIATORSNO WARNINGS
Taxi / Before Takeoff Checklist · read & respond
BRAKESCHECKED
FLIGHT INSTRUMENTSHEADING & ATTITUDE CHECKED
FLAPSTAKEOFF — CONFIRMED
TRIMTAKEOFF RANGE
INERTIAL SEPARATORAS REQUIRED
AUTOPILOTTESTED — DISENGAGED
AUTOTHROTTLETBM 940 / TBM 960ARMED
TRANSPONDERTA / RA — ALT
EXTERIOR LIGHTSLANDING · STROBE · RECOG
Line-up items
RUNWAY____ CONFIRMED
TORQUESET — WITHIN LIMITS
Full power at low airspeed gives a healthy yaw. Feet on from the start rather than catching it afterwards.
After Takeoff / Climb Checklist · read & respond
LANDING GEARUP — POSITIVE RATE
FLAPSUP
CLIMB POWERSET
YAW DAMPERON
PRESSURISATIONCLIMBING NORMALLY
EXTERIOR LIGHTSSET
ALTIMETERSTD SET AT TRANSITION
Cruise Flow · from memory
POWER / TORQUECRUISE SET
FUEL SELECTORBALANCED
ENGINE TRENDITT · TORQUE · Ng NORMAL
CABIN ALTITUDE / OXYGENCHECKED
ICE PROTECTIONAS REQUIRED
DESCENT PREPARRIVAL · APPROACH · MINIMA
Descent Checklist · read & respond
PRESSURISATION / LANDING ELEVSET
ALTIMETER____ SET
INERTIAL SEPARATOR / ICE PROTECTIONAS REQUIRED
POWERREDUCED SLOWLY
Come back in stages and keep some torque on. Chopping it cools the engine fast and puts you into a descent rate you did not ask for.