In the first three months of the year, the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) said total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to $634.5 million, as reported by participating companies. The amount represents an increase of 4.8 percent from the fourth quarter of last year and 11.6 percent growth over the first quarter of last year.
The AEA says these increases were driven by a 34.6 percent improvement in forward-fit sales (avionics installed by airframe manufacturers during original production) compared to the same time frame a year ago. "The more than $354 million in forward-fit sales was the largest sales total in that category since the third quarter of 2019 when more than $366 million in forward-fit sales were reported," the association said.
The dollar amount reported from net sales prices (not manufacturer's suggested retail prices) represents all business and general aviation aircraft electronic sales, including all components and accessories in cockpit/cabin/software upgrades, certified and noncertified electronics; all related hardware; batteries; and chargeable product upgrades from participating manufacturers. The amount does not include sales figures from repairs and overhauls, extended warranty payments, or maintenance subscription services.
Of the more than $634 million in first-quarter 2022 sales, 44.2 percent came from the retrofit market, while forward-fit sales amounted to 55.8 percent of first-quarter sales.