In its first quarter 2019 Avionics Market Report, the Aircraft Electronics Association (AEA) finds that total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to more than $724 million, as reported by the participating companies. The figure represents a 13.2 per cent increase in total sales compared to the first quarter 2018 amount of $639,796,979.

The dollar amount reported (using net sales price, not manufacturer's suggested retail price) includes: 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 $724 million in first quarter 2019 sales, 53.6 per cent came from the retrofit market while sales of avionics equipment installed by airframe manufacturers during original production amounted to 46.4 per cent of first quarter sales.

According to the companies that separated their total sales figures between North America (US and Canada) and other international markets, 76.1 per cent of the first quarter sales volume occurred in North America, while 23.9 per cent took place in other international markets.

“While it is likely that ADS-B installations in the United States are a contributing factor to the increase in year-on-year sales as we get closer to the FAA's equipage deadline, those are fairly straight-forward installations,” says AEA president and CEO Mike Adamson. “Our member repair stations report that they are also doing an increasing number of full-panel retrofits. Installations of new electronic flight displays, digital autopilots, engine monitor systems, in-flight connectivity and other technologies are keeping the shops extremely busy, and the ongoing work has helped drive an increase in year-on-year sales for nine straight quarters.”