TBM-850 - Flying on an ATPL?
 

I've searched the forum and various others without success and also scoured JAA and LASORS without finding a definitive answer so......

I hold a current UK ATPL(A)
I have over 5,000 ME multi-crew commercial hours on turbo-props and jets
I have around 3,000hrs PiC on the above.
I need to renew my IR (Got that in hand)
Medical is valid.

Having been made redundant 2 years ago, I have now been offered an exec job flying a TBM-850. I have enquired about courses and SimCom seems to be the best deal but only offers FAA endorsements.

Can I operate a TBM-850 legally after doing the manufacturers approved course at SimCom?

Do I need to obtain an EASA SE Single Crew Turbo-prop rating? If so, is that obtained separately and where?

SimCom are unsure and it would appear that the answers are not readily found. I guess most people go from such types to the commercial world and not the other way round?

Any pointers appreciated, preferrably with a reference to be able to quote to the CAA.

You'll need to do a type rating and will also require to renew your single pilot instrument rating. Your previous multicrew type ratings will have covered you for a multicrew instrument rating only. If your UK based then you can check the standards docs on CAA website for approved training providers.

Thanks Mike.

I spoke at length with the CAA and am awaiting the confirmation in writing of what I was told verbally that as my initial IR was single crew ME Piston, that is what I need to renew rather than a multi-crew IR as you quite rightly mention.

The TBM doesn't have a type rating. For insurance purposes though it is a prequisite to complete a manufacturer's approved training course which is close to a type rating - 6 days of ground school and 6 days of sim. The only two places offering such courses are Daher-Socata themselves at Tarbes and SimCom.

The challenge I have is trying to establish whether I need to get the EASA SE Single Crew endorsement and if so, where from or does it form part of the course at Tarbes.

As far as I can remember if its FAA registered then you dont need a type rating but if its JAR(EASA), then its probably the TR/Class rating(essentially the same as a TR). I just check standards docs on CAA website and theres no mention of any approved training provider in UK so best to speak to the guys themselves at Tarbes who will keep you right. I think Simcom is FAA only stuff.

Hello;

Here is a start of an answer:

http://www.easa.europa.eu/certificat...t-20102011.pdf

Rgds

No you don't need to get a SE single crew endorsement - that doesn't even exist!

If you have done the TBM 850 class-rating (it is a class, not a type) and if you hold IR/SE Single-Pilot, then you can fly the TBM850 single-pilot.

The same applies to other EASA aircraft which can be flown single-pilot (eg C510, C525, PC12). All you need is the class-rating and single-pilot IR.

Not sure if that is quite correct.

Under EASA the TBM 850 is a high performance aeroplane in the single engine turbine class. Holding an ATPL ahould exempt you from HPA training.

However the PC 12 is certainly a type rating under EASA

The C510 525 is yet to be published, but under JAR rules both are type ratings although strangely a single pilot ME/ IR covers them, so an IR conducted in a piston twin does cover you on a C510/525.

I decided to check that and you are correct, PC12 is now a type-rating. I see on the latest official list that C525 and C510 are now considered type-ratings too.

In fact there are now no more jets with class-ratings, and the only turboprops with class-ratings are the TBM700/850 family, and the PC6.

The latest list (20/10/2011) is here:
http://www.easa.eu.int/certification...t-20102011.pdf

Do you know what exactly has changed, when PC12 became type rating? I mean for example why they changed it?

They probably changed it because previously it didn't cost very much, and only lasted a couple of days...

I did a flight with the Socata/Tarbes factory instructor in a TBM850 last year. Details here. In there I list the pilot requirements, for both N-reg and G-reg. The article was checked by Socata.