Airplane shipments are down for the first half of 2016, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported Friday. There were 970 units shipped for the first six months of the year, a 4.5 percent decline. Billings for new airplanes fell 11 percent to $9.3 billion, while rotorcraft billings saw a 32.5 percent drop over last year, from $2.1 billion to $1.4 billion. In the airplane category, all types saw declines in the 4-percent range, with business jets down 4.3 percent at 292 units shipped, turboprops down 4.9 percent at 235 units and piston airplanes down 4.5 percent with 443 units shipped so far this year. The second quarter of 2016 saw more than $5.32 billion in airplane billings, down from about $5.89 billion for the same period last year.
GAMA said it’s pushing for regulatory reform to help boost the industry’s ability to roll out new products and technology.“As we saw at AirVenture last week, general aviation manufacturers are working hard to regain momentum by delivering innovative new products and technologies that enhance safety and provide substantial improvement in capability,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “Unfortunately, the U.S. Congress has not done its part to support aircraft manufacturers or maintenance, repair and overhaul companies through its collective failure to include reforms of the outdated and overly prescriptive certification processes in the recently passed FAA extension.” He cited remarks made this month by Sen. Jerry Moran, R-Kan., one of a few who voted against the extension as drafted because it didn’t include the proposed measures, “a sorely missed opportunity for Congress.”
