Numbers up, total value down, that’s the conclusion of the latest aircraft shipments and billings report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
In its 2018 third quarter report, GAMA said deliveries of aircraft and rotorcraft increased in the first nine months compared to the same time period in 2017 but total billings compared to the same period in 2017 decreased.
Piston engine aircraft numbers are up by 8.3% to 784 units, turboprop aircraft are up by 5.6%, both piston and turbine helicopter deliveries are up, and business jet numbers also increased. So why the drop in billings? Fewer of the high ticket bizjets were in those deliveries.
“This is one of those few times since the great recession that we have seen all segments up in shipment numbers,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce.
“While there remain some soft spots in a few segments, including business jet deliveries and impacts being felt from global trade disputes, I’m optimistic about our industry’s performance in 2019 given continuing healthy demand for tax expensing, stabilization of the used market, and the number of new products being introduced to the market place.”
