General Aviation is Fostering the Future of Aerospace
The general aviation manufacturing industry continues to show steady growth despite headwinds strengthened by labor shortages and supply chain disruptions. In addition to the important role that our industry plays in the overall transportation system and growing economic opportunity, it has become the technology incubator for the aerospace industry, improving both safety and sustainability.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA) 2022 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report, which was released in late February, showed solid growth for our industry. When compared to 2021, all aircraft segments (piston airplanes, turboprops, business jets, piston helicopters and turbine helicopters) saw increases in shipments and preliminary aircraft deliveries were valued at $27.2 billion, an increase of 6.2 percent.
In 2022, the piston airplane segment once again saw its highest deliveries reported in over a decade, exceeding last year’s previous high by 8.2 percent – with a nearly 70 percent increase from 10 years ago. Turboprop airplane shipments also showed strong growth, exceeding what was seen in 2021 by 10.2 percent. The business jet segment delivered two more aircraft than they did last year, however, there was stout growth in the value of these aircraft as it reached nearly $20 billion. The rotorcraft segment also showed sturdy growth in 2022, with piston and turbine helicopter deliveries up 8.0 percent with a value of over $4.5 billion.
These figures tell a great story about the health of our industry, and they further emphasize the utility we provide to our communities and the transportation system, and the progress we are making to improve safety and meet our environmental goals.
Our product development across the spectrum of fixed wing, rotorcraft and advanced air mobility vehicles is spurred by the recognition that our industry is the safety and sustainability technology incubator for global civil aviation. These safety, performance and sustainability efforts are built upon technological advancements with lighter weight materials, new structural and wing designs, fly-by-wire control replacing heavy hydraulic systems, additive manufacturing reducing the number of parts, lighter weight and more reliable avionics, and engines and airframes that can fly on a 100-percent sustainable aviation fuel blend. This impressive list of advancements does not even begin to touch on the revolution of electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion our companies are developing. The technologies that our industry works to advance pave the way for broader implementation in aerospace.
Many innovative technologies being adopted by manufacturers are designed as process improvement applications for use within the maintenance environment. Integrated maintenance management systems combined with data analysis and AI tools can improve efficiencies with maintenance planning efforts while the use of technologies such as virtual and augmented reality provide improvements for today’s maintenance technicians during performance of their typical job functions such as training, remote assistance, data visualization, inspection and maintenance. As technologies continue to evolve, we can expect to see further enhancements and broader applications within the aviation maintenance environment to support the needs of the future workforce of maintenance technicians.
This year, as Congress works to reauthorize the FAA, it will be important that we show the significant role general aviation plays within the aerospace industry and that we illustrate to policymakers the improvements that are needed at the FAA to facilitate the certification of new technologies that will further advance our industry’s safety, performance and sustainability principles.
Our industry has proven to be resilient and eagerly awaits to meet the needs and challenges that lie ahead which will create greater opportunities for future growth.
Pete Bunce is the president and CEO of GAMA, an international trade association representing more than 100 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. GAMA’s members also operate repair stations, fixed based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities and they manage fleets of aircraft. You can read more about GAMA’s activities at www.gama.aero and on the General Aviation Manufacturers Association Facebook page.
