In its third-quarter 2018 Avionics Market Report the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) has revealed that in the first nine months of the year total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales, as reported by participating companies, amounted to more than $2 billion. The figure represents a 15.5 per cent increase in year-on-year sales compared to the first nine months of 2017's total of more than $1.7 billion.

Sales during the 2018 third-quarter months of July, August and September were in the region of $679m, a 15.6 per cent increase compared to the 2017 third-quarter sales of nearly $588m.

Year-to-date, both the retrofit and forward-fit markets have seen double-digit increases in sales compared to the first nine months of 2017. The forward-fit market was up 16.6 per cent compared to a year ago, while the retrofit market has increased 14.7 per cent.

The figures reported are based on net sales prices and include all business and general aviation aircraft electronic sales including all component and accessories in cockpit/cabin/software upgrades/portables/certified and non-certified aircraft electronics; all hardware (tip to tail); batteries; and chargeable product upgrades from the participating manufacturers. The amount does not include repairs and overhauls, extended warranty or subscription services.

Of the more than $2 billion in sales during the first nine months of 2018, 57.3 per cent came from the retrofit market while forward-fit sales amounted to 42.7 per cent of sales.

According to the companies that separated their total sales figures between North America and other international markets, 77.7 per cent of sales in the first nine months of 2018 occurred in North America, while 22.3 per cent took place in other international markets.

“With robust growth in sales during the first nine months of the year, the industry is on pace to produce the largest dollar amount of year-end avionics sales since the reporting process began back in 2012,” says retiring AEA president Paula Derks. “We have now seen seven straight quarters of positive year-on-year sales growth dating back to the end of 2016, and it's an encouraging sign for the industry that sales are strong in both the forward-fit and retrofit markets.”