LEE’S SUMMIT, Mo. — The Aircraft Electronics Association released its first-quarter 2014 Avionics Market Report, which shows that in the first three months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to more than $651 million.
That amount shows an 11.2% increase in sales compared to the first-quarter 2013 amount of more than $586 million.
The dollar amount reported (using net sales price, not manufacturer’s suggested retail price) includes: All business and general aviation aircraft electronic sales — including all component and accessories in cockpit/cabin/software upgrades/portables/noncertified aircraft electronics; all hardware (tip to tail); batteries; and chargeable product upgrades from the participating manufacturers. The amount does not include repairs and overhauls, extended warranty or subscription services.
Of the more than $651 million in total sales in the first quarter, more than $330 million came from forward-fit (avionics equipment installed by airframe manufacturers during original production) sales and comprised 50.7% of total sales. Retrofit (avionics equipment installed after original production) sales amounted to more than $321 million, comprising 49.3% of total sales.
In addition, the first-quarter 2014 report marked the first time participating companies were asked to separate their total sales figures between North America (U.S. and Canada) and other international markets. According to the companies that participated in this breakdown, 62.9% of the sales volume occurred in North America (U.S. and Canada), while 37.1% took place in other international markets.
“It is encouraging to see total avionics sales in the business and general aviation market grow by more than 11% from the same time period one year ago,” said Paula Derks, AEA president. “This report is another positive economic indicator for the general aviation industry, which continues its recovery from the recession.
“The report also noted that sales were split nearly evenly between the forward-fit and retrofit markets during the first quarter. The 49.3% of sales in the aftermarket is up compared to the 2013 year-end report that showed the retrofit market accounting for 46% of total sales. And with more than 37% of avionics sales taking place outside the United States and Canada, it’s another indicator that the business and general aviation industry has no boundaries and truly is a significant contributor to the international economy.”
To ensure confidentiality, the participating manufacturing companies submit their sales figures to an independent third-party accounting firm retained to produce the AEA Avionics Market Report. The companies currently participating in the report include:
- Accord Technology
- Aircell
- Alto Aviation
- Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp.
- Aspen Avionics
- BendixKing
- Cool City Avionics
- FreeFlight Systems
- Garmin
- Genesys Aerosystems
- Honeywell Business & General Aviation
- ICG
- Jupiter Avionics
- Latitude Technologies
- L-3 Aviation Products
- Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics
- PS Engineering
- Rockwell Collins
- Sandia Aerospace
- Shadin Avionics
- Trig Avionics
- Universal Avionics Systems Corp.
The number of companies that participate in the AEA Avionics Market Report may change on a quarterly and/or annual basis, and any comparative analysis of the data should take this into consideration, AEA officials note.
For more information: AEA.net
This is so very nice (seriously) but can you just let us fly our little airplanes for a few more years before we die without any more expensive required equipment? Thanks.