In What general geographic area does your friend partake of?

TJ

PM sent

Yes generally speaking the underwriting companies do not view a TBM, Meridian or PC12 with any different appetite to permit a non make/model to “count” towards the formal insurance required initial school for the make/model ultimately operated.

I hear you, just saying that flying a C340 and a 737 is almost of no use in learning the systems and handling of a TBM/PC12 or P46T. They share very few systems in common, they share very little overlap in emergency scenarios, failure modes and they have almost no overlap in handling characteristics. The initial training is already pretty to the point. They are assuming that you already know how to fly a plane to your particular rating in instrument conditions. But you need to know every system, where it is, how it works, what the failure modes are, and how to mitigate each of them, and how to handle more than one at a time. Most importantly, you need to know how each of those planes has killed previous pilots, and how it will try to kill you. There are no shortcuts for that, and if there were (are) would be ill advised to take them. IMHO

First your friend should join TBMOPA. It is a useful organization with the much needed info available on the website or for the asking on the forum. It is not really a social website like BT although my experience is that the members are professional, focused on safety, sociable and helpful.

I found insurance for the TBM to be less $ by hull value than a PA46. Ron Cox did my initial and Brett James did my 25 hours of mentor flying. Both great teachers in their own right. No training was superfluous.

I did not buy from the factory and did not go to SimCom so I cannot speak to that.

Paul, what difference in $$$ did you see between the TBM and Meridian? RoM number fine.

I was paying about 5.3k for a Mirage hull value of 500k for 1m smooth.

On a TBM hull value of 1.4m w 2m smooth I was quoted 6K and for 5m smooth 9.6K.

I opted for the 5 smooth because of reasons.

Every aircraft is different.
As much as the TBM is simple, I learn new stuff on every Simcom training.

Insurance company loves factory approved training because its a standard that they like.
Its probably not better but it a standard for them.

I don't get it.

I have about 25hrs turbine time in total. They never asked for mentor time, just initial. IPC each year, that's it. It must have something to do with the value of the hull. Fancier newer planes worth a lot of money = lots of hoops to protect their potential replacement value. Old beaters like mine = they don't give a crap.

Consensus - buy old, update airframe and panel.

Hull value, but also liability risk - what amount of liability do you carry? How much was available to you? Also, is there a standardized training program available for that aircraft at all?

$1Million liability, $250K hull. I could do initial with any of their approved instructors, but I chose SimCom.

Well, there you go. In insurance lingo, “approved instructors” means basically the same thing as “factory training”. I.e. the insurers have examined and approved the curriculum to be taught.

Actually Adam if it was me, I’d look maybe at a Commander, as I like them for many reasons, except double the fuel flow, and engines to maintain, but yep here we go with single/twin risk assessments.

Murray

I just finished in aircraft initial training in the TBM. There are many instructors in the TBM community that are Insurance approved for initial and recurrent training. A list is maintained on the TBM Owners Association website.

I was very happy with my initial training. My instructor is very experienced in the TBM, a former military pilot in war zones, and former Alaska bush pilot. I couldn’t give him a higher recommendation. If your buddy is interested just PM me and I’ll give him the contact info.

I had my broker check with the underwriters to get approval for in aircraft training with this instructor in lieu of SIMCOM and it was no problem.

Henk Klopper

PM sent, thank you Henk!

Murray