General Aviation Shipments Stay on Steady Course

Bottlenecks in certification and supply chain continue to produce drag on an industry seeking to innovate sustainable and efficient solutions.

Julie Boatman

Thursday, May 25, 2023 at 04:43 PM ET

Verified

Rotorcraft deliveries registered a stronger increase, with deliveries up nearly 50 percent in quarter-over-quarter figures. [Courtesy: HAI]

Key Takeaways:

General aviation shipments in Q1 2023 saw increases for piston (10.1%), turboprop (6.4%), and notably rotorcraft (nearly 50%), while business jet shipments slightly decreased, leading to a slight dip in total billings from Q1 2022.
The industry faces ongoing challenges including certification and supply chain bottlenecks, workforce shortages, and external pressure from "irrational attacks" on business aviation.
Despite these headwinds, manufacturers are focused on innovation for safety and sustainability, with GAMA actively advocating for policy support in the U.S. and countering criticism against private aviation in Europe.

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The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released its first quarter 2023 shipments and billings report for GA manufacturers. With shipments in piston and turboprops up slightly as compared to the first quarter of 2022—10.1 percent and 6.4 percent, respectively—and jets off by less than a percentage point, total billings softened slightly from $3.8 billion in Q1 2022 to $3.7 billion this year for the same period. Rotorcraft deliveries registered a stronger increase, with deliveries up nearly 50 percent in quarter-over-quarter figures.

While the numbers indicate the market is holding steady, there are signs of concern. Bottlenecks in certification and supply chain, and a minor downtick in business jet operations—depending on whom you speak with—continue to produce drag on an industry seeking to innovate sustainable and efficient solutions in the face of outside attacks on the use of private aviation.