Pilots and owners of Piper single-engine piston- and turboprop-powered M-Class (PA-46) airplanes gathered at the 2026 Piper M-Class Owners & Pilots Association (PMOPA) Convention in Colorado Springs October 8-11 to share safety information, attend technical sessions, and spend time with fellow Piper aficionados.
Piper Aircraft highlighted its progress on extending the M600 and M700 Fury airframes’ life to 10,000 hours. FAA approval is expected in the second quarter of 2027. A diesel option for the PA-46 is of “continued interest,” according to Piper v-p of sales, marketing, and customer support Ron Gunnarson.
Safety sessions included an examination of PA-46 accidents and incidents by Manny Casiano, PMOPA Safety & Education Foundation chair; the risks of overreliance on cockpit automation; and introductory and advanced safety training led by Caitlin McCarthy, a Platinum-level CFI in PMOPA’s M-Class Standardized Instructor Pilot program. More than a dozen technical sessions covered piston and turboprop operations, maintenance, avionics, and flight-planning applications, and a “Conversation with Piper Engineering” gave attendees a chance to discuss aircraft needs with Piper officials.
More than 100 pilots met the requirements for PMOPA’s Master Aviator program, which the association says promotes safety, learning, and technical mastery. “Our members gained practical insights they can apply every time they fly, reinforcing PMOPA’s commitment to safety, advocacy, and community,” said PMOPA CEO Mike Nichols.
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