Worldwide, manufacturers shipped 2,234 airplanes, a 2.5-percent increase over 2016’s 2,268 units shipped by the same companies. However, billings slipped 4.2 percent from $21.1 billion to $20.2 billion, said GAMA Chairman Phil Straub, the executive vice president and managing director of Garmin Aviation.
Get back in the left seat. Let AOPA show you how! Watch the Video. In the rotorcraft sector, worldwide shipments rose 7.5 percent as the 2016 total of 861 units shipped rose to 926. Billings also increased 1.4 percent as the $3.6 billion in 2016 climbed to $3.7 billion in 2017.
“Notable from these numbers is that the rotorcraft segment stabilized after several years of declining deliveries. Piston rotorcraft experienced the largest increase of all segments at 264 unit deliveries compared to 224 in 2016, a 17.9-percent increase. Preliminary turbine rotorcraft data also indicates an increase of 3.9 percent, to 662 aircraft delivered,” GAMA said in a news release.
New models of business jets entering service drove the 1.3-percent growth in the sector’s deliveries in 2017, up from 667 to 676 units.
Turboprop deliveries, however, declined to 563 airplanes, compared to 582 deliveries in 2016; a 3.3-percent decline, GAMA said. Piston airplane shipments showed strength, growing 6.5 percent to 1,085 units.
“The 2017 year-end results were encouraging, especially with the delivery growth we saw in the business jet, piston airplane and rotorcraft segments,” said GAMA President Pete Bunce. “Looking ahead, we’re optimistic given some very positive economic indicators, stabilization in the used business aircraft market, new manufacturing techniques spurred by additive manufacturing, and innovative aerospace technologies driving urban air mobility platforms, electric and hybrid propulsion, unmanned aerial vehicles and commercial space.”
Read more: AIRCRAFT MANUFACTURERS SAW ‘ENCOURAGING’ RESULTS IN 2017