Turboprops do a great deal of the regional flying out of Chicago, because they operate comfortably from the shorter runways across the Midwest and the lake country.
Daher-Socata introduced the Socata TBM 850 in 2006. It seats 5 to 6 with a published range of 1,585 nautical miles and a cruise speed of 320 knots. The aircraft has a service ceiling of 31,000 feet, 30 cubic feet of baggage volume and a lavatory.
Performance and Cabin
- Category: Turboprop
- Manufacturer: Daher-Socata
- Year introduced: 2006
- Seating: 5 to 6
- Crew: 1
- Range: 1,585 nautical miles
- Cruise speed: 320 knots
- Service ceiling: 31,000 feet
- Length: 35 feet
- Wingspan: 41.6 feet
- Height: 14.3 feet
- Baggage volume: 30 cubic feet
- Lavatory: Belted
Why the Socata TBM 850 Fits Chicago
In this market the aircraft suits the trips that come up most often. With 1,585 nautical miles of published range, it covers trips from Chicago to destinations such as Nashville, Boston and Scottsdale, allowing for reserves and routing. De-icing season runs from roughly November through March in Chicago, and it affects departure timing, ramp availability and cost.
Around Chicago this opens up the smaller fields as well as the primary ones, including Chicago Executive (KPWK), Aurora Municipal (KARR) and Lewis University (KLOT), where tower hours are worth checking before a late departure. Whether it can use a particular airport on your date is the operator’s performance calculation for that aircraft, that weight and that day, and your advisor will confirm it before anything is booked.
How Chicago Clients Use the Socata TBM 850
For Midwest work a turboprop is frequently the sensible answer: lower cost per hour than a jet, and access to fields a jet cannot use. On trips under about two hours the time difference against a light jet is smaller than most people expect.
Tell us the route, the passenger count and what is traveling with you, and your advisor will confirm whether this aircraft is the right fit or point you to a better one. We will also tell you which Chicago-area field makes the most sense for the trip.
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Vetting Behind Every Trip
Every operator, aircraft, and crew goes through our internal due diligence before we present any options. Our internal standards meet or exceed what the FAA requires:
- FAR Part 135 charter operators for traditional private aircraft, or FAR Part 121 for airliner-size and group trips (or the foreign equivalent on international legs)
- Operator subscription to Wyvern and ARGUS reviewed where the operator participates.
- Pilot experience and operator incident history reviewed before we recommend an aircraft.
- Fewer than 60 brokers worldwide hold Premium Wyvern Broker Member status, and Air Charter Advisors is one of them.
Charter Pricing Reference
- Estimated hourly rate: $2,000 to $2,800 (as of 9/2026)
Contact
Call an advisor at +1-888-987-5387 at any hour, or send the trip through our contact page. You can read how we check operators, crews and insurance on our safety page.
The hourly rates provided are estimates based on 2026 market data and are for informational purposes only. These figures are subject to change and do not constitute a final offer. Final pricing is dynamic and depends on real-time factors including, but not limited to, specific itinerary requirements, aircraft positioning (“ferry” fees), fuel price volatility, and current market availability. These estimates exclude all applicable taxes, de-icing, landing and handling fees, special event fees, international surcharges, overnight crew expenses, and premium catering. Please contact Air Charter Advisors directly for a firm, all-inclusive quote tailored to your specific travel needs.