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Through the first three quarters of the year, general aviation deliveries rose 6.1 percent over the same period in 2017, while overall billings declined 3.1 percent to $12.7 billion, according to statistics released today by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Business jet deliveries increased by 3 percent, from 433 in the first nine months of last year, to 446 in the same period of 2018. While the overall deliveries increased, this year’s total consisted of a higher concentration of smaller, less expensive jets, leading to the decrease in billings.
Pressurized turboprops saw a better-than 5 percent increase year-over-year, rising from 175 deliveries a year ago to 184 through the first nine months of 2018, and the turbine helicopter market also showed an improvement of 8.3 percent, jumping from 471 deliveries a year ago to 510 in the first nine months of 2018.
“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 marketplace.”
Through the first three quarters of the year, general aviation airplane shipments rose by 6.1 percent over the same period in 2017, while overall billings declined by 3.1 percent shrinking from $13.1 billion to $12.7 billion, according to statistics released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) on November 14.
Private jet deliveries rose by 3 percent, from 433 in the first nine months of last year, to 446 in the same period of 2018. While the overall number of business jet deliveries increased, reflective of the decrease in billings, that total consisted of a higher concentration of smaller jets. Cirrus ramped up its production of the SF-50 Vision Jet, from 9 in the first three quarters of 2017 to 41 in the same period this year, for a 356 percent increase. Likewise, Pilatus began deliveries of its PC-24 at the beginning of the year and handed over nine through the first three quarters.
That is contrasted with high-end jet maker Gulfstream, which saw its delivery total decrease by 12 percent year-over-year, as it handed over nine fewer large-cabin jets than in the previous year.
Honda Aircraft saw a 30-percent dip in deliveries, moving from 30 in the first nine months for 2017 to 21 through the same period this year, while Embraer reported a nearly 7 percent dip, moving from 59 to 55 deliveries year-over-year.
While Bombardier remained nearly static, the Canadian airframer delivered three fewer Globals between January and the end of September this year, as it awaited certification on its new flagship Global 7500. Textron, which wrapped the production run on its Cessna Mustang very light jet last year with nine deliveries, made up that shortfall this year, shipping nine additional CJ3+s, while increasing from 122 to 125 deliveries overall. Keeping with company practice Dassault only releases half-year and year-end delivery totals.
On the bizliner front, Boeing tacked on another BBJ to its 3Q 2017 total, for six thus far in 2018. Airbus did not deliver any ACJs in 2017 or through the first nine months of 2018, while Embraer did not ship any Lineage 1000s this year, after handing over one in the first quarter of 2017.
Turboprops
Pressurized turboprops saw a better-than-5 percent improvement year-over-year, buoyed by Piper, which delivered seven more M-series turboprop singles than it did a year ago, for a nearly 23 percent increase, and Beechcraft, which handed over four additional King Airs. Piaggio, which had no deliveries during the first nine months of 2017, chipped in with three Avanti Evos in the first three quarters of 2018. Also in Europe, Daher delivered three fewer single-engine TBMs, while Pilatus, which has been busy with the successful launch of its first jet, shipped two fewer PC-12s than it did during the first nine months of last year.
Helicopters Rise Too
In the rotorcraft segment, total shipments were up by more than 10 percent year-over-year, while turbine-powered helicopters showed an 8.3 percent rise. Like the fixed-wing segment, it also saw a decrease in total billings, moving from $2.7 billion a year ago, to $2.6 billion through the first three quarters of 2018.
Bell increased its shipments by 68 percent year-over-year, boosted by the ramp-up of the 505 JetRanger X. Deliveries of the light single-engine soared from 10 in the first three quarters of 2017, to 91 in the same span this year. That increase helped cancel out a 16.5 percent shipment decrease by Airbus Helicopters, which delivered 10 fewer H145s and nine fewer H130s during the first nine months of the year. Leonardo handed over six more helicopters year-over-year, and Robinson increased its output by more than 30 units, including three additional turbine-powered R66s. Sikorsky saw one fewer delivery this year, while Enstrom shipped nine additional helicopters, including five turbine-powered 480Bs, for a 180-percent increase over last year’s output.
“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 marketplace.”