GAMA Publishes 2018 Third Quarter Shipments and Billings Report

Nov. 15, 2018
Overall delivery of airplanes and rotorcraft increased in the first nine months compared to the same time period in 2017.

Washington, DC –– The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today published its 2018 third quarter aircraft shipments and billings report. The overall delivery of airplanes and rotorcraft increased in the first nine months compared to the same time period in 2017, but with some mixed performance within the types. Total billings compared to the same period in 2017 decreased.

“This is one of those few times since the great recession that we have seen all segments up in shipment numbers,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “While there remain some soft spots in a few segments, including business jet deliveries and impacts being felt from global trade disputes, I’m optimistic about our industry’s performance in 2019 given continuing healthy demand for tax expensing, stabilization of the used market, and the number of new products being introduced to the market place.”

Piston rotorcraft deliveries increased by 15.8 percent to 220 units. Turbine rotorcraft shipments increased by 8.3 percent to 510 unit deliveries. Piston airplane deliveries increased by 8.3 percent to 784 units. Shipments of turboprops improved by 5.6 percent from 374 to 395 airplanes. Business jet shipments increased from 433 to 446 deliveries.

Shipment of Aircraft First Nine Months

Airplanes20172018ChangePiston Airplanes724784+8.3%Turboprop Airplanes374395+5.6%Business Jets433446+3.0%Total Airplane Shipments1,5311,625+6.1%Total Airplane Billings$13.1B$12.7B-3.1%Rotorcraft20172018ChangePiston Rotorcraft190220+15.8%Turbine Rotorcraft471510+8.3%Total Rotorcraft Shipments661730+10.4%Total Rotorcraft Billings$2.7B$2.6B-2.2%