Increased aircraft shipments and billings in the third quarter of 2014 support optimism that the industry continues its emergence from recession, said the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Year-to-date total worldwide aircraft shipments increased 5.7 percent from third-quarter 2013 levels to 1,678 units. Billings increased 4 percent, to $16 billion, GAMA said in the General Aviation Aircraft Shipment Report released Oct. 30.
Optimism about the general aviation market that was on display at the National Business Aviation Association’s recent convention “is reflected in the continued recovery of the business jet and piston-engine segments this quarter,” said GAMA President Pete Bunce. “New products are helping to fuel our industry’s continued growth as we continue to emerge from the recession.”
The growth in piston-engine airplane shipments came in at 9.2 percent, up from 738 shipments in the first nine months of 2013 to 806 units in this year’s comparable period, with this year’s shipped aircraft consisting of 710 single-engine airplanes and 96 multiengine airplanes.
Business jet shipments were up 9.3 percent, from 421 units to 460 units so far in 2014.
Indicative of challenges that continue to face the industry, however, were turboprop airplane shipments—down 3.7 percent from 2013 to 412 units this year, Bunce said.
He called on Congress to use the remaining weeks of its session, after the Nov. 4 election, “to move forward on renewing tax incentives—such as the research and development (R&D) tax credit and bonus depreciation—to help general aviation manufacturers continue to innovate, sell more airframes, and spur installation of safety-enhancing products to finish the year on a strong note.”
