Story ID: 
Business Aircraft Shipments Climb Nearly 26 Percent
By: Gordon Gilbert
Caption: Manufacturers delivered 738 turbine airplanes in the first nine months of this year, some 26 percent more than the 585 delivered in the same period last ye
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Manufacturers delivered 738 turbine airplanes in the first nine months of this year, some 26 percent more than the 585 delivered in the same period last year, according to data released today. The General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported that U.S. and non-U.S. companies shipped 228 turboprops and 510 business jets, versus 194 and 391, respectively, last year. Total billings, including 1,685 piston airplanes, was $10.4 billion, nearly 29 percent more than the $8 billion in the first nine months of last year. Compared with last year's figures (shown in parenthesis), the following business aircraft deliveries were shown: Bombardier, 136 (94); Cessna Citation, 180 (118); Dassault, 30 (38); Gulfstream, 65 (47); and Raytheon, 77 jets, 68 turboprops (70 and 58). Total shipments of 2,423 piston and turbine airplanes in the first nine months is just 540 short of the 2,963 deliveries in all of last year. Said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce, "Even though we have reasons to believe that general aviation will continue to experience positive growth, we remain concerned about challenges; the high price of fuel, access to airports and airspace and the FAA reauthorization debate are issues that can impact our continued recovery."