Billings At All-Time High, Most Deliveries In Over 25 Years

On Tuesday, leaders of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced the 2007 year-end shipment figures for the general aviation industry have led to another record high in industry billings.

Speaking at GAMA’s Annual Industry Review and Market Outlook Briefing, GAMA Chairman Alan Klapmeier reported that a strong worldwide market, especially outside of North America, was a driving factor for general aviation in 2007.

"As these economies continue to expand, we expect general aviation to play an ever increasing role in these regions," said Klapmeier, who is also Chairman and CEO of Cirrus Design. "Manufacturer backlogs are strong and we think this bodes well for 2008 and the years beyond."

Record industry billings totaled $21.9 billion, eclipsing last years' figure by 16.5 percent. Year-end, worldwide shipments of general aviation airplanes totaled 4,272 units, the most in more than a quarter century and up 5.4 percent over the previous year's total of 4,053 units.

Aside from the record set for year-end billings, the industry also experienced an all-time high in business jet shipments -- delivering over 1,000 units for the first time in history.

Confirming a trend seen throughout last year, the piston airplane segment was down 2.9 percent in 2007... but GAMA notes the segment still posted the second best year in over two decades, even as total units decreased from 2,755 in 2006 to 2,675 in 2007.

Shipments of turboprops increased 11.4 percent, up from 412 units in 2006 to 459 units in 2007. Business jet shipments reached an all-time high of 1,138 units, up 28.4 percent over last year’s figure of 886 airplanes.

FMI: Download The 2007 Shipment Report (.pdf), www.gama.aero