WASHINGTON, D.C. — At its annual industry review Feb. 22, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released the 2016 year-end aircraft shipment and billings numbers.
GAMA Chairman Simon Caldecott, president and CEO of Piper Aircraft, revealed that airplane shipments globally fell 3.9%, from 2,331 in 2015 to 2,241 in 2016, while airplane billings declined 14.1%, from $24.1 billion to $20.7 billion.
Worldwide rotorcraft shipments fell 16.9%, from 1,036 in 2015 to 861 in 2016. Rotorcraft billings dropped from $4.7 billion in 2015 to $3.6 billion in 2016.
Business jet shipments in 2016 were at their lowest number since 2004 at 661 delivered, compared to 718 in 2015.
Turboprop airplane shipments provided a bright spot, increasing from 557 in 2015 to 576 in 2016, a 3.4% increase.
Piston airplane shipments declined from 1,056 in 2015 to 1,004 in 2016, a 4.9% drop.
Turbine helicopter shipments, based on initial data, declined from 757 unts in 2015 to 637 in 2016. Piston helicopter shipments declined from 279 in 2015 to 224 in 2016.
“The 2016 year-end results were disappointing overall, although we did see some blue sky in the turboprop sector,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said. “As we look toward 2017 and beyond, we are optimistic about the future and encouraged by the number of companies investing in innovative research and development programs and planning to bring new products to market.
“GAMA is actively working to create the regulatory environments that will make it more efficient and effective for manufacturers to offer new products and technologies to their customers, enhancing safety, efficiency, connectivity, and comfort,” Bunce continued. “We are encouraged by the completion of the Part 23 rule by the FAA and look forward to similar actions in Europe, as well as adaptation of these rule-making principles to rotorcraft and transport category airplanes. However, to enable and sustain that growth, policymakers and regulators must continue to work with industry to streamline regulatory processes and facilitate the global flow of aviation products.”
The industry needs to bring the entry cost down to a reasonable level!!! Who can afford to buy new anymore? All of the talk about creating young pilots and interest in aviation goes up in smoke when those interested see the price tag. Could someone please produce a quality GA airplane thatcost less than the home I live in?!?
Previously they did not. This would make a difference in the results.
Have they considered Light-Sport Aircraft in the Piston category?
Hi Mike:
I am not from GAMA and I cannot answer for them… but, yes, GAMA reports -some- LSA results in their report -if- the company is a member. They do not count most of these. Membership is reportedly for Type Certified producers as are some LSA companies. The majority of LSA producers are not reported in GAMA’s tables.
In GAMA’s defense, they have tried to count such aircraft but this is very challenging due to each country using alternate names for certain aircraft segments. It is difficult even when you are extremely knowledgeable about these aircraft types.
On ByDanJohnson.com, we -do- report as accurately as we can both U.S. results, using the FAA N-number registration database. We also report worldwide results, a process that involves checking and re-checking with people we know in those countries. We hope to have a report up in the next weeks for 2016 results.
Meanwhile, if you go to this page, you will a lot of market info exclusively for LSA, light kits, and LSA-like aircraft:
http://www.bydanjohnson.com/index.cfm?b=1&m=5
GAMA -does- report data for worldwide Type Certified aircraft. We also have an estimate of worldwide LSA or LSA-like aircraft, which you can read at these links:
http://www.bydanjohnson.com/Sidebar.cfm?Article_ID=2112
http://www.bydanjohnson.com/Sidebar.cfm?Article_ID=2003
http://www.bydanjohnson.com/Sidebar.cfm?Article_ID=2005
Thanks!
Dan Johnson