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 (GA) manufacturing in Q1 2023 saw increased shipments for piston, turboprop, and rotorcraft aircraft, although business jet shipments slightly declined, leading to an overall minor decrease in total airplane billings.
The industry faces ongoing challenges including supply chain and workforce bottlenecks, North American regulatory process hurdles, and external criticism, particularly "shortsighted, irrational attacks" on private aviation in Europe.
Despite these challenges, GA manufacturers are focused on innovation for advanced safety and fuel performance, with GAMA actively advocating for the industry's environmental sustainability leadership and urging for key governmental actions like a confirmed FAA administrator and timely FAA reauthorization.

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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.