GA shipments up 25%

The good news continues for the GA industry. In the first nine months of this year, shipments rose 25.7% to 2,432, while industry-wide billings for new airplanes rose to $10.4 billion, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Shipments of piston-powered airplanes manufactured worldwide increased to 1,685 units in the first three quarters of 2005, up from last year’s 1,342. Turboprop shipments increased from 194 airplanes in the first three quarters of 2004 to 228 this year. Business jets were also up with total shipments increasing 30.4%, from 391 units last year to 510 units this year.