Increased deliveries of business jets boosted US general aviation manufacturers' shipments and billings substantially in the first half of the year.
Jet deliveries were up by more than 32% over the same period last year, to 225 aircraft, says the US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
One of the biggest contributors was the Boeing Business Jet (BBJ), with 13 aircraft worth almost$430 million shipped in the first half. BBJ deliveries only began in the fourth quarter of last year.
Cessna boosted Citation shipments to 95 aircraft, from the 83 delivered in the same period last year, as deliveries of the new Excel accelerated. The new Learjet 45 buoyed deliveries from the US Bombardier subsidiary, which saw shipments rise from 30 aircraft to 46.
Gulfstream delivered 34 aircraft, six more than in the first half of last year, taking its billings to over $1.15 billion. Raytheon's business jet shipments rose by 16 aircraft, to 47 for the half year, as Hawker 800XP deliveries increased.
GAMA says piston aircraft deliveries by its member companies increased by almost 11% in the first half, to 745 aircraft, while turboprop shipments were stable at 112 units.
Overall, deliveries for the first six months increased by 21.3% and billings by 45.1% over the same period last year.
Source: Flight International
