The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has released the 2018 year-end results at its State of the Industry press conference.

GAMA chairman and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp president Mark Burns reported that, globally, aircraft shipments increased 4.7 per cent to 2,443 units in 2018 and aircraft billings increased 1.5 per cent, from $20.2 bn to $20.6 bn. Worldwide rotorcraft shipments rose 5.4 per cent, from 926 to 976 units, and rotorcraft billings decreased slightly by 0.7 per cent.

Notable from these numbers is that piston aircaft deliveries increased by 5.0 per cent to 1,139 units. Turboprop aircraft shipments increased to 601 units and business jet deliveries improved, rising from 677 to 703 units. There were 281 piston rotorcraft deliveries compared to 264 in 2017 and preliminary turbine rotorcraft delivery data shows a 5.0 per cent increase to 695 shipments.

“This is the first year since 2013 that we've seen all segments up in deliveries,” says GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “New certifications over the last two years, especially in the lighter jet segments as well as demand in North America, are driving the business jet shipment increase. This is also the second consecutive year in which shipments of piston and turbine rotorcraft are up, driven by the introduction of new models to the market.”

He continues: “While the impact of the US partial government shutdown is still being felt and assessed, we remain optimistic that, given recent type certifications and other certifications in the product queue, all bodes well for the large aircraft segment to continue in strength. Also encouraging is the demand for specific aircraft types that we're seeing in North America, the Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa regions.”