US general-aviation aircraft manufacturers set a record in 1996 in terms of total sales, and registered strong volume growth in aircraft shipments. The industry predicts continued progress to the end of the decade as new models are introduced .
Ed Bolen, president of the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), says that, in 1996, the US industry delivered the highest number of aircraft since 1990. Turnover figures were the best ever. Total units delivered reached 1,132, up by 5% from the 1995 figures of 1,077 . Total sales for the year stood at $3 billion, up by 11% from $2.8 billion in the previous year.
For the second year in a row, US aircraft makers increased their shipments of piston-engined aircraft, this time shipping 600 aircraft, a 4% increase over 1995. Single-engine piston-aircraft shipments increased by 3%, from 515 units in 1995 to 530 units in 1996. Multi-engine piston-aircraft shipments rose by 15%, from 61 units in 1995 to 70 units in 1996.
Turboprop shipments also improved by 13%, from 255 units in 1995 to 289 aircraft in 1996, but turbofan deliveries were flat with 243 units shipped, compared with 246 units in the previous year. Bolen says that delivery of some turbofans scheduled for December slipped into 1997 because of production problems. He sees improvement in this market segment as new aircraft are introduced and export sales increase.
Bolen predicts that this year's figures will exceed those of 1996. "We think that 1997 will be outstanding," he says.
Source: Flight International
