Positive Rate: Gear [Sales] Up

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) is to the aerospace industry what the United Nations is to the international community—with the exceptions that GAMA is relevant, respected, and its pronouncements are both germane to and predictive of real-world events, trends, opportunities, and hazards.

GAMA’s heft derives of the clout of its members, some of which—Beechcraft, Bombardier, Cessna, Dassault, Embraer, GE Aviation, Gulfstream, Honeywell, Pilatus, Piper, Pratt & Whitney, and Rolls-Royce, for example—may be familiar to experienced pilots and flight-department managers. Ergo, when GAMMA releases its quarterly Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report, it behooves individuals and organizations party to the aerospace industry to take notice.

GAMA’s second quarter 2022 numbers indicate increasing aircraft deliveries across nearly all aircraft types and models, along with a commensurate increase in the overall value of the shipped aircraft.

GAMA President & CEO, Pete Bunce states: “Demand for general aviation aircraft continues at a robust pace. Since the initial setbacks of the pandemic, we have seen some segments make strides with growing backlogs and high rates of operations while others are still diligently working to navigate the path to recovery. Despite ongoing supply chain and workforce issues, our industry continues to make progress and strategically posture for the future, which is a true testament to our strength and durability.”

Compared to the same time period in 2021, aircraft shipments through the second quarter of 2022 saw shipments of piston airplanes increase 9.4% with 638 units delivered, shipments of turboprops increase 11.8% with 247 units delivered, and shipments of business jets increase 9.5% with 289 units delivered. The value of airplane deliveries through the second quarter of 2022 was $9.1-billion, an increase of 5.2% over last year.

Helicopter shipments, conversely, remained steady relative 2021 figures; shipments of piston helicopters increased 4.8% with 87 units delivered, while shipments of turbine helicopters decreased 0.8% with 257 units delivered.

In all, the first half of 2022 saw shipments of 1,147 fixed-wing aircraft, and 344 helicopters valued at $9.1-billion and $1.3-billion respectively.

GAMA’s complete 2022 second quarter report can be found at the organization’s website.

FMI: www.gama.aero