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GAMA year-end aircraft shipments
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) on February 20 released its 2018 year-end results for aircraft shipments and billings. Mark Burns, GAMA chairman and president of Gulfstream Aerospace Corp., announced, that globally, airplane shipments increased 4.7 per cent to 2,443 units in 2018.
February 25, 2019 By Wings Staff
Airplane billings increased 1.5 per cent, from $20.2 billion in the prior year to $20.6 billion. Worldwide rotorcraft shipments rose 5.4 per cent, from 926 to 976 units. Rotorcraft billings decreased slightly, by 0.7 per cent.
Notable from these numbers, explains GAMA, is piston airplane deliveries increased by 5.0 per cent, to 1,139 units. Turboprop airplane shipments increased to 601 units. Business jet deliveries improved from 677 to 703 units. There were 281 piston rotorcraft deliveries compared to 264 in 2017. Preliminary turbine rotorcraft delivery data shows a 5.0 per cent increase, to 695 shipments.
“This is the first year since 2013 that we’ve seen all segments up in deliveries,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “New certifications over the last two years, especially in the lighter jet segments, as well as demand in North America are driving the business-jet shipment increase. This is also the second consecutive year in which shipments of piston and turbine rotorcraft are up, driven by the introduction of new models to the market.”
Bunce continued to explain that GAMA remains optimistic, given recent type certifications and other certifications in the product queue, that the large airplane segment will continue to show strength. “Also encouraging is the demand for specific aircraft types we’re seeing in North America, the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa regions,” he said.
