The General Aviation Manufacturers Association says an uptick in aircraft shipments during the first half the year may be a sign of a bounce-back in the beleaguered GA market.
GAMA said aircraft shipments rose nearly six per cent compared to the first six months of 2011, while the value of aircraft deliveries rose 13.2 per cent. Growth was led by deliveries of business jets, which were up by 13.1 per cent, and turboprops, up by 10.5 per cent. Delivery of piston-powered aircraft dropped by 1.6 per cent.
In all, 918 GA aircraft worth US$8.2 billion were shipped in the first half of the year, up from 867 aircraft worth $7.2 billion last year.
“We are starting to see positive signs in the 2012 shipment data,” said GAMA’s president and CEO, Pete Bunce. “When coupled with the positive trend we are seeing in the used market, we may finally be witnessing the start of our recovery.”
