GA Aircraft Deliveries Up or Flat in 1Q: GAMA

As the world progresses into the post-Covid era, billings for general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft delivered in the first quarter soared 18.1 and 26.2 percent, respectively, from the same period last year, according to data released this morning by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.

At 113 deliveries, business jet airframers were off one unit from last year’s first-quarter total. Gulfstream boosted its year-over-year (YoY) Q1 deliveries by five in its large-cabin class, while Embraer added four, handing over five more Phenom 300es than it did in the same period in 2020. Textron delivered five additional Citations, as it more than doubled the output for its light M2. Bombardier remained static at 26 deliveries, its five fewer Challengers replaced with five additional Globals handed over. Dassault reports its deliveries only at mid-year and year-end. In the bizliner segment, Boeing added one delivery in the first quarter of the year, compared with none in the same period last year, while Airbus tacked one more to the lone delivery it had in the first three months of 2020.

The smaller private jet OEMs all logged decreases YoY. Pilatus saw its PC-24 deliveries more than halve in the first quarter of 2021, as did Cirrus, which declined from 18 SF50 VisionJets handed over a year ago to seven during the first three months of 2021. Honda Aircraft delivered two fewer HondaJets in the first quarter of this year.

While the total number of turboprops handed over rose by more than 18 percent YoY, to 84 aircraft, there were two fewer high-end pressurized models handed over in the first quarter of 2021. Daher increased its output of TBM 940s to seven after handing over four in Q1 2020, while Piper doubled its number of M600 deliveries to six in the first quarter of this year. Epic remained static with one E-1000 delivery in the opening quarter of both years, while Pilatus had its 11 PC-12 deliveries in the first three months of 2020 reduced to seven through the first quarter this year. Textron, which ended the production of its entry-level King Air C-90 in March, also saw its deliveries totals move from 11 last year to seven in the first quarter of this year.

Piston airplane shipments were also up, with 235 deliveries representing a 7.3 percent advance over the first quarter of last year.

Meanwhile, turbine-powered helicopter deliveries in the quarter increased by seven units from the first three months of 2020 to 92—an 8 percent improvement.

Airbus Helicopters, which issued only a first-half delivery total last year, had 36 deliveries in the first quarter this year. Bell bettered its Q1 2020 output by 50 percent, handing over 15 rotorcraft in the first three months of 2021, while Leonardo added two to its Q1 2020 figure for a total of 12. Sikorsky handed over one S-92 through the first quarter of 2021 after delivering none in the same period last year. Robinson Helicopter boosted its R-66 deliveries to 22 in the first three months of 2021, a seven-unit improvement over its 2020 Q1 total.

Piston helicopter deliveries were flat from a year ago, with 36 units, one fewer than in the same period in 2020.

“It is encouraging to see manufacturers begin to bounce back from the impacts of the pandemic, although we are not yet in the clear,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “The industry continues to face headwinds, especially with ongoing supply-chain issues and pandemic-related restrictions and constraints to global travel.” He added that it is important for the industry to continue working with governments to assist in strengthening the supply chain, safely easing travel-related restrictions, and protecting its highly skilled workforce.