GA Aircraft Shipments Declining In 2015
New GA airplane shipments so far this year are down 6.5 percent over 2014, according to third-quarter numbers reported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Piston airplanes led the decline with a 10.8 percent drop for the first nine months of the year, followed by turboprop airplanes, which were down 9.4 percent.
New GA airplane shipments so far this year are down 6.5 percent over 2014, according to third-quarter numbers reported by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Piston airplanes led the decline with a 10.8 percent drop for the first nine months of the year, followed by turboprop airplanes, which were down 9.4 percent. Meanwhile, business jet numbers are up more than 4 percent this year with 465 shipped. Piston rotorcraft shipments rose 1 percent, with 205 aircraft reported. Shipments of all aircraft categories are down nearly 6 percent over the first three quarters of 2014.
"Although the industry's performance among sectors in the third quarter remained mixed, new and recently certified business jet models helped raise overall billings," GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce stated in Friday's report. The lack of financing guarantees available from the U.S. Export-Import Bank since its authorization expired on June 30 is a factor, particularly for the turboprop market and its exports of agricultural aircraft, Bunce said. GAMA has been lobbying Congress to pass legislation reauthorizing the bank. The measure passed the House of Representatives on Oct. 27 and will go to the Senate. The bank's loan guarantees help GA manufacturers sell to international buyers.
