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The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) recently unveiled the general aviation aircraft delivery numbers for 2018 at its annual “State of the Industry” press conference in Washington, D.C. For the first time in five years, all segments of the general aviation industry showed an increase in the number of deliveries.

GAMA Chairman and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. President Mark Burns announced that globally, airplane shipments increased 4.7 percent, for a total of 2,443 in 2018. Most notably, pistons and turboprops were key drivers in the growth of overall shipment numbers. The number of piston airplane deliveries, which increased by five percent in 2018 to a total of 1,139, was the highest number since 2008. Turboprop airplane shipments also rose from 563 to 601, and business jet deliveries increased by nearly four percent.

“New certifications over the last two years, especially in the lighter jet segments, as well as demand in North America are driving the business jet shipment increase,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce in a release. “This is also the second consecutive year in which shipments of piston and turbine rotorcraft are up, driven by the introduction of new models to the market.”

The increase in deliveries across all segments indicates the continued success of the general aviation industry on a global scale. The findings released by GAMA will be used to help educate policymakers and leaders about the value general aviation manufacturing creates in the United States and around the world.

“While impacts of the U.S. partial government shutdown are still being felt and assessed, we remain optimistic given recent type certifications and other certifications in the product queue that bode well for the large airplane segment to continue its strength,” continued Bunce. “Also encouraging is the demand for specific aircraft types we’re seeing in North America, the Asia-Pacific and the Middle East and Africa regions.”

According to GAMA’s annual report, the general aviation industry includes over 446,000 general aviation aircraft flying worldwide today, of which over 211,000 aircraft are based in the United States, and over 136,000 aircraft are based in Europe. The industry supports $219 billion in total economic output and 1.1 million total jobs in the United States.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) exists to foster and advance the general welfare, safety, interests, and activities of the global business and general aviation industry. As one of the United States’ first manufacturers of aircraft parts, Hartzell Propeller is proud to support GAMA’s efforts to advocate for the general aviation industry. To learn more and view the GAMA 2018 annual report, click here.