GAMA Q2 Numbers Reveal Strong Market

Deliveries of piston aircraft totaled 761 units, an increase of 7.3 percent over Q2 of 2023, according to GAMA. Bizjet deliveries were up 8.8 percent to 322 units, and the value of all airplane deliveries through the second quarter was up 24.2 percent to $11.3 billion. Among the fixed-wing segment, only turboprops lagged with a decrease in shippings of 3.4 percent to 280 units.

Piston helicopters increased 2.7 percent to 115 units, while turbine rotorcraft sagged to 313 units, a decrease of 7.7 percent from 2023. Overall value of helicopter deliveries was $1.7 billion.

“Through the first half of 2024, we continue to see robust demand for new aircraft, as indicated by the impressive backlogs and plans for facility expansion by many of our OEMs,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce.

Bunce cited as constraints ongoing supply chain and workforce recapitalization issues that are “routinely compounded by unacceptable turn times in terms of responsiveness and lack of decision making by the FAA specialists on such things as issue papers, certification plans and regular correspondence.”

“Our industry is the incubator of safety enhancing and aviation sustainability technology, which in turn serves as a catalyst for economic growth and exemplary employment for millions around the globe,” added Bunce. “It is vital that our regulators continue to improve effectiveness and efficiency of certification and validation processes, appropriately apply the safety continuum across the spectrum of general aviation products and respond to applicants in a timely manner. For the continued vitality of our industry and to facilitate all the great innovations that are taking place, it is imperative that we tackle these ongoing challenges.”

Editor’s Note: This article first appeared on AVweb.