2023 Report Paints Picture of Healthy Enough Industry Cooling Off from 2021 High

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) showed that business is doing all right, with all aircraft segments seeing a modest 3.6% increase in shipments over 2022.

Overall, the biggest winners were surprisingly piston aircraft, at an 11.8% increase over 2022 shipments. The runners-up were turbine helicopters and turboprop fixed-wing aircraft, training at 10.4% and 9.6% increases respectively. Overall, a 3.6% industry-wide increase isn't quite bad, but not really impressive after the eye-popping bull run seen in the post-pandemic years. Last year, 2022 was reported to boast a 6% increase over the previous year, and 2021 an even better 10.2% increase over the see-saw year of 2020. Given that momentary surge, it may be for the best that the industry throttles back into more steady, consistent growth. Suppliers and materials manufacturers would certainly prefer that things become more even-keeled - even years after the onslaught of supply chain woes, their aftereffects continue to be felt. Overall, GAMA seems pretty upbeat about the industry's state today, calling attention to lengthy order books and relative preparedness of the US domestic base as a whole.

Pete Bunce, GAMA president and CEO, noted “For the first time in more than a decade, the general aviation manufacturing industry has eclipsed 4,000 aircraft delivered. In addition to this strong showing, there are robust and growing order backlogs for all segments of aircraft. This is a testament to the resilience of our industry and the integral role that general and business aviation plays in our communities. While the deliveries from 2023 are very encouraging, our industry faces headwinds from ongoing supply chain issues, workforce shortages, uncertainty and unpredictability from global regulators, and short-sighted efforts aimed at curbing business and general aviation, particularly in Europe. As civil aviation’s innovation incubator, our entire GA industry is focused on new aircraft and technologies that will lead the way in safety and sustainability for the entire aviation sector."

"This progress is dependent on having effective, predictable and accountable regulatory processes, and a supportive business environment," added Bunce. "Therefore, it is crucial that the U.S. Congress passes a long-term FAA reauthorization bill, a fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill for the FAA, and a tax measure which is pending that promotes research and development. Likewise, non-U.S. global regulatory agencies must receive the proper budgetary support from their governments to carry out current and future activities. If political entities and regulatory bodies can deliver on their responsibilities, what our industry can accomplish in 2024 and beyond will be extraordinary."

FMI: www.gama.aero