Cirrus Bounces Back from 2010 Market Slump

A GAMA report showed Cirrus made 61 aircraft shipments in the first quarter, up from the 53 the Duluth, Minnesota-based manufacturer reported during the same period last year. The company’s billings also improved, rising from $29.7 million last year to $37 million this year.

The results come amidst big changes at the lightplane manufacturer. In February** Cirrus announced 100 percent ownership** of the company was to be transferred in the near future to the Chinese firm China Aviation Industry General Aircraft Company. And late last month, a tentative counterbid offer for the company led by private U.S. investors failed to materialize.

During this transition period, Cirrus still managed to capture 33 percent of the piston engine market share during the first quarter of 2011, up from the 30 percent it held during all of 2010.

While the piston market has rebounded better than other aircraft sectors, Cirrus continues to feel the strong repercussions of a down economy. Even if Cirrus surpasses its 2010 total shipment level of 264 planes during the remainder of this year, it has a quite a ways to go to return to its peak level of 721 shipments made during 2006.