Aircraft shipments mostly 'soft'

The total value of aircraft shipped amounted to $4.5 billion, GAMA said in a news release on first-quarter industry performance.

“The entire industry is feeling the impact of retrenchment in the energy sector as well as global geopolitical and economic insecurity,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “Despite these headwinds, our industry continues to invest in research, development, and certification of more efficient and safe products.”

In a comparison with 2015’s first quarter, shipments of piston airplane and rotorcraft shipments were “stable” at 191 piston units, actually down slightly from 193; and 60 rotorcraft units, equal to last year’s period shipments.

Business jet deliveries declined by 4.7 percent from 128 in 2015’s first quarter to 122 for the same period in 2016.

Turboprop airplane deliveries slowed by 6.8 percent, from 117 units to 109 units, and turbine rotorcraft deliveries dropped from 141 to 103 units, GAMA said. (The release notes that "Dassault reports combined civil airplane deliveries twice a year in accordance with company financial reporting procedures. The summary table data does not include 2015 first quarter Dassault deliveries to allow for a year-to-year comparison.") To see the breakdown of all shipments, download GAMA's full report.

Addressing policy actions, Bunce said reforms in aircraft certification and regulatory interpretations contained in FAA reauthorization legislation now being considered were critical “in terms of getting innovations and new technologies to market.”

GAMA board members would be on Capitol Hill, calling on Congress “to move forward on bipartisan FAA reauthorization and appropriations legislation that expedites delivery of new products to market, better leverages industry and regulatory resources, and reduces costs to customers,” he said.