The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released its quarterly shipment report last week — a report that compares general aviation aircraft delivery numbers year over year. This latest report compares the first half of 2015 to the same time period in 2014, and the results will not make the aviation industry jump for joy.
The total number of GA airplanes delivered in the first half of 2015 dropped by 9.1 percent over the same period in 2014. This resulted in an overall decline in billings of 4.6 percent for a total of $10.4 billion. After very strong gains of 9,4 percent overall in 2014, the piston market saw the biggest drop, going from 526 airplanes delivered in the first half of 2014 to only 464 in 2015, a decline of 11.8 percent.
Even more dismal was the rotorcraft market, the total number of billings of which dropped 16.8 percent over the reported time period for a total value of $1.9 billion. Total shipments went from 502 to 447, an overall decline of 11 percent.
GAMA's president Pete Bunce blamed the declining numbers on the "volatile global markets and contraction within the energy sector." Another factor that would improve the market is the reauthorization of the Export-Import Bank, Bunce said. As of July 1, EXIM bank and its delegated lenders lost their authority to process new loan transactions.
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