During the first three months of 2024, deliveries were flat for piston airplanes and piston helicopters, down for turboprops and turbine helicopters, and up for business jets, according to the First Quarter 2024 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
However, total aircraft billings were up 3.2% to $4.7 billion.
“While the first three months of the year produced a mixed report, the health of the industry remains solid with robust order backlogs strong across all segments,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA President and CEO.
“Our industry continues to be challenged by significant supply chain issues across the board that range from raw materials, through forgings and castings, to basic parts availability,” he added. “These challenges are most acute in our engine sector.”
Workforce availability is yet another area that is constraining production, he noted.
“However, we are encouraged to see deliveries of business jets continue to increase and remain optimistic that this trend will include other aircraft segments as the year progresses.”
According to the latest figures, aircraft shipments through the first quarter of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023, showed piston airplane deliveries were flat at 292 compared to 290 last year.
Turboprop deliveries decreased 7.7% to 108, while business jet deliveries increased 8.5% to 127.
Helicopter shipments through the first quarter of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023, showed piston helicopter deliveries were flat with 53 compared to last year’s 56, and turbine helicopter deliveries decreased 14.4% to 131.
The complete 2024 first quarter report can be found at GAMA.aero.