General aviation aircraft deliveries in the first nine months of this year were up more than 25% over the same period last year, with the industry’s busiest quarter just beginning. Turbine shipments increased to 738 aircraft and pistons to 1,685, according to figures from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Year-on-year increases for the third quarter were less dramatic, with turbine deliveries up 15% to 272 aircraft and pistons up 6% to 603, but the industry is expected to have a busy fourth quarter, beating the total of 994 deliveries recorded last year. Cessna has pushed its forecast year-end total up to 240-245 Citations, from 181 last year, and Raytheon Aircraft has increased its forecast to 376 aircraft – 151 jets, 116 turboprops and 109 pistons – all but one of the extra 11 deliveries being Beechcraft King Airs.
In the first nine months, business jet deliveries climbed 30.4% to 510 aircraft, and are forecast by Honeywell to total 745 for the year. Turboprop deliveries increased 17.5% to 228 aircraft. The higher piston shipments year-on-year reflect increased production rates at Columbia and Diamond and a recovery at New Piper.
Source: Flight International
