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More aircraft are being delivered for more dollars, with particular momentum being shown on the general aviation side and within the latter months of the year. All of that comes from the Third Quarter 2023 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report published this week by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
"General aviation is the planet's aerospace technology incubator that drives safety and sustainability benefits to our transportation systems and economies," GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said in a statement announcing the report. "We are laser-focused on safety, technology and sustainability initiatives to maintain and expand our industry's steadfast growth into the future."
The word "incubator" was also used by Bunce last month as GAMA joined with other aviation advocacy groups including the NBAA, AOPA, EAA and others to launch a joint initiative called Climbing. Fast., which seeks to better educate the public on the efforts the private aviation industry is making to improve safety and environmental sustainability.
"To achieve this, it is imperative that there is stability within our industry's regulatory bodies and having a new permanent leader at the top of the FAA is a great start," Bunce continued. "It is also essential that Congress act now to pass an FAA reauthorization bill that provides the new administrator and agency with the necessary direction and tools to strengthen and enhance the aviation system."RELATED STORIES:Lessons from the latest Global Jet Capital report - In a market of change expect more of the same The future of business aviation loomed large at CJI Miami event - Here are the highlights NBAA-BACE 2023: Here is what happened at business aviation's biggest showThe latest aircraft sales figures from GAMA cover the current year through Sept. 30, year to year, with a 10.1% gain in the number of total aircraft delivered (2,029 - an increase of 186 from 2022).The numbers show the number of piston planes delivered in the first nine months of this year jumped 11.9% from the same timeframe last year, while the number of jet deliveries increased 2%. In terms of the number of aircraft, OEMs placed 1,135 piston planes in the hands of customers, an increase of 21, while delivering 455 business jets, a gain of nine.
The number of turboprops delivered rose from 383 to 439, a 14.6% increase, and top lines also grew. The total billings across all aircraft classifications was $14.5 billion, up $400 million year to year, a 2.5% jump.
Total helicopter deliveries increased from 578 to 627, an 8.5% uptick, with billings rising from $2.6 billion to $2.7 billion, a 5.4% increase. Piston helicopter deliveries increased from 137 to 158, 15.3%, while the number of turbine helicopters delivered grew from 441 to 469, a 6.3% positive change.
Check out the complete report, including delivery numbers by manufacturer and aircraft model, here.