Fixed-Wing Piston And Turboprop Shipments Down Sharply Compared To Last Year

GAMA has just released its third quarter shipment and billing data for the general aviation manufacturing industry, and there is some pretty dismal news for some sectors, particularly piston and turboprop airplanes, and turbine rotorcraft.

Overall, the industry shipped a total of 2,243 airplanes and rotorcraft in the first nine months of 2015 for a combined value of $18.5 billion.

"Although the industry’s performance among sectors in the third quarter remained mixed, new and recently certified business jet models helped raise overall billings,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce (pictured). “In the turboprop market our agricultural aircraft sector has been particularly hard hit by the U.S. Export-Import Bank’s inability to make new financing guarantees since July 1. Therefore, we are very encouraged by the strong bipartisan support in the U.S. House of Representatives this month that complements U.S. Senate support in late summer to renew the Ex-Im Bank. We are hopeful that the Surface Transportation bill to which Ex-Im reauthorization is attached will be conferenced quickly and sent to the President's desk for his signature. We also hope Congress will move quickly to extend critical tax policies, providing greater certainty to the market going forward.”

Business jet deliveries were stronger in the first nine months of 2015 at 465 units compared to 446 units in 2014, a 4.3 percent increase. Piston rotorcraft matched last year's shipment rate at 205 aircraft year-to-date. However, piston airplane shipments declined from 806 units to 719 units, a 10.8 percent reduction, and turboprops declined from 413 units to 374 units, a 9.4 percent reduction. The industry shipped 480 turbine rotorcraft, down 8.6 percent compared to last year.

GAMA is an international trade association representing over 80 of the world's leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. GAMA's members also operate repair stations, fixed based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities and manage fleets of aircraft.

(Source: GAMA news release)

FMI: www.GAMA.aero