Face It... 2003 Is NOT Our Year

Shipments of general aviation airplanes for the first half of 2003 totaled 1,031 units, a drop of 13.8 percent from the same period last year according to GAMA. Industry billings for the first six months were $4.05 billion, down 32.3 percent from 2002.

“The shipment numbers are largely in line with the production schedules our manufacturers announced for the year and they reflect the continued weakness in the economy,” said GAMA President and CEO Ed Bolen.

“The positive news is that single-engine piston shipments are holding steady and we are beginning to see some indications that the accelerated depreciation GAMA pushed to have included in the recent tax bill is stimulating some new orders.”

Although shipments of multi-engine airplanes fell in the first half of 2003, shipments of single-engine piston airplanes were up 1.4 percent over the same period last year—from 663 units to 672 units.

Shipments of turboprop airplanes declined 10.8 percent from 111 units in the first half of last year to 99 units this year. Business jet shipments decreased from 352 units in the first six months of last year to 222 during the same period this year.

GAMA is a national trade association headquartered in Washington, DC representing over 50 manufacturers of general aviation aircraft, engines, avionics and related equipment. GAMA's members also operate fleets of aircraft, fixed based operations at many airports, and pilot training and maintenance training facilities.

FMI: www.GAMA.aero