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Signs of Life in Airplane Production

Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) Q1 figures show a strong revival in aircraft deliveries, with total shipments up nearly 10% and billings increasing by 31.7% compared to Q1 2012.
  • Turboprops led this growth significantly, with twin deliveries seeing a substantial 78.9% increase and single-engine models up around 15%.
  • Piston aircraft deliveries also experienced a positive trend, improving by approximately 4%.
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The General Aviation Manufacturers Association released its figures for first quarter aircraft deliveries, and there was good news — some of it very good — across the board, with turboprops leading the revival.

Overall the numbers were solid, with total shipments up nearly 10 percent. Billings, which measure the amount of money those shipments take in, were an inspiring 31.7 percent higher, both compared with the same quarter in 2012. The improvements were especially noteworthy because they occurred in the first quarter, a period that is typically slower than average, as many buyers take delivery in the last quarter of the previous year in order to take advantage of fourth quarter tax benefits.

Isabel Goyer

A commercial pilot, Isabel Goyer has been flying for more than 40 years, with hundreds of different aircraft in her logbook and thousands of hours. An award-winning aviation writer, photographer and editor, Ms. Goyer led teams at Sport Pilot, Air Progress and Flying before coming to Plane & Pilot in 2015.

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