The General Aviation
Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released the 2016
year-end aircraft shipment and billings numbers at
its “Annual Industry Review” press conference
yesterday (Wednesday, 22nd February).
GAMA Chairman Simon
Caldecott, President and CEO of Piper Aircraft,
announced that airplane shipments globally fell
3.9%, from 2,331 units in 2015 to 2,241 units in
2016 from the same reporting companies, whereas
airplane billings declined 14.1%, from $24.1bn to
$20.7bn. Worldwide rotorcraft shipments fell 16.9%,
from 1,036 units in 2015 to 861 units in 2016. The
rotorcraft billings declined from $4.7bn in 2015 to
$3.6bn in 2016.
Business jet
shipments in 2016 were at their lowest number since
2004 at 661 units delivered, compared to 718 units
in 2015. Turboprop airplane shipments provided a
bright spot, increasing from 557 units in 2015 to
576 units in 2016 for the same reporting companies,
a 3.4% increase. Piston airplane shipments declined
from 1,056 units in 2015 to 1,004 units in 2016, a
reduction of 4.9% for the same reporting companies.
Turbine helicopter
shipments, based on initial data, declined from 757
units in 2015 to 637 units in 2016. Piston
helicopter shipments declined from 279 units in 2015
to 224 units in 2016.
“The 2016 year-end
results were disappointing overall, although we did
see some blue sky in the turboprop sector,” GAMA
President and CEO
Pete Bunce
said. “As we look toward 2017 and beyond, we are
optimistic about the future and encouraged by the
number of companies investing in innovative research
and development programs and planning to bring new
products to market.
“GAMA is actively
working to create the regulatory environments that
will make it more efficient and effective for
manufacturers to offer new products and technologies
to their customers, enhancing safety, efficiency,
connectivity, and comfort,” Bunce continued. “We are
encouraged by the completion of the Part 23 rule by
the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration and look
forward to similar actions in Europe, as well as
adaptation of these rule-making principles to
rotorcraft and transport category airplanes.
However, to enable and sustain that growth,
policymakers and regulators must continue to work
with industry to streamline regulatory processes and
facilitate the global flow of aviation products.”
SHIPMENTS
OF AIRPLANES MANUFACTURED WORLDWIDE |
|
2015 |
2016 |
CHANGE |
Piston
Airplanes* |
1,056 |
1,004 |
-4.9% |
Turboprops* |
557 |
576 |
+3.4% |
Business
Jets |
718 |
661 |
-7.9% |
|
Total
Shipments |
2,331 |
2,241 |
-3.9% |
Total
Billings |
$24.1B |
$20.7B |
-14.1% |
SHIPMENTS
OF ROTORCRAFT MANUFACTURED WORLDWIDE
|
|
2015 |
2016 |
CHANGE |
Piston
Helicopters |
279 |
224 |
-19.7% |
Turbine** |
757 |
637 |
-15.9% |
|
Total
Shipments |
1,036 |
861 |
-16.9% |
Total
Billings |
$4.7B |
$3.6B |
-23.0% |
Notes:
* AVIC General
was added to the shipment report in 2016. The 2016
piston and turboprop airplane data includes
shipments from AVIC General. For purpose of
comparison with 2015, the AVIC General data is not
included.
** Leonardo
Helicopters Q4 data was not available at the time of
publication. Leonardo Helicopters will release
year-end results in March 2017. GAMA will update the
online 2016 report then. For the purpose of
comparison, GAMA excluded 2015 Q4 data for Leonardo. |