GRAHAM WARWICK / WASHINGTON DC

US shipments of jets, pistons and turboprops suffer particularly sharp decline

Worldwide general aviation aircraft deliveries in the first quarter reflected the slowing economy and reduced production rates, with numbers of aircraft shipped slipping to 521, from 642 a year ago, according to the US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

The value of aircraft delivered worldwide dropped from $3.53 billion to $2.81 billion.

Deliveries of business jets were down 11.7%, while pistons fell 15.2%. Turboprop deliveries almost halved. Shipments by US manufacturers showed an even steeper decline, with jets slipping 16.4%, pistons 18.5% and turboprops 57.9%. Only Cirrus Design and Europe's EADS Socata and Piaggio saw deliveries increase, according to GAMA figures.

No Boeing Business Jets were delivered in the first quarter, down from five in the same period last year. Bombardier delivered 46 business jets, down from 60, including four more Challenger 604s but seven fewer Global Expresses. Cessna's business jet shipments were down slightly at 60 aircraft, but piston deliveries fell from 157 aircraft to 106. Dassault Falcon deliveries remained at 17 aircraft, and Gulfstream shipped one fewer aircraft for a total of 27. Raytheon delivered 49 aircraft, down from 83, including three fewer jets, 17 fewer turboprops and 17 fewer pistons. New Piper saw shipments fall from 99 aircraft to 70, including 23 fewer single-turboprop Meridians.

A survey conducted by internet brokerage Aircraft Shopper Online (ASO) among general aviation dealers in the USA found that over a third of them reported an increase in sales in the first quarter compared to the fourth quarter of last year. During the quarter over half of all corporate dealers reported an increase in serious inquiries. The expectation of economic turnaround was rated by over 50% of respondents as having the greatest impact on general aviation, with four in 10 of those polled citing low interest rates as a factor pushing up sales inquiries. Gina Titus, trends analyst at ASO, says that 56% of corporate dealers polled expect a further sales increase in the second quarter.

TABLE: deliveries for first quarter 2002

Type

2001

2002

Change

Pistons (worldwide)

356

302

-15.2%

Pistons (US)

346

282

-18.5%

Turboprops (worldwide)

90

46

-48.9%

Turboprops (US)

76

32

-57.9%

Business Jets (worldwide)

196

173

-11.7%

Business Jets (US)

146

122

-16.4%

Total (worldwide)

642

521

-18.8%

Total (US)

568

436

-23.2%

Source: The US General Aviation Manufacturers' Association

Source: Flight International