The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has released the 2022 General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report. It reveals that compared with 2021, all aircraft segments saw increases in shipments, and preliminary aircraft deliveries were valued at $26.8bn, an increase of 6%.
“The general aviation manufacturing industry continues to show increasing strength despite workforce and supply chain challenges across our industry,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA president and CEO. “Our product development across the spectrum of fixed wing, rotorcraft and advanced air mobility vehicles is spurred by the recognition that our industry is the safety and sustainability technology incubator for global civil aviation. These safety, performance and sustainability efforts are built upon progress with lighter weight materials, new structural and wing designs, fly-by-wire control replacing heavy hydraulic systems, additive manufacturing reducing the number of parts, lighter weight and more reliable avionics, and engines and airframes that can fly on a 100% sustainable aviation fuel blend.”
“Of course, the impressive list of progress doesn’t even begin to touch on the revolution of electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion our companies are developing,” Bunce continued. “As we look towards FAA reauthorisation in the USA, we will be looking for Congress to focus the FAA on improving their processes to facilitate the certification of new technologies as well as support their validation efforts globally to deliver safety, performance and sustainability benefits.”
Aircraft shipments in 2022, when compared with 2021, saw piston aircraft deliveries increase 8.2%, with 1,524 units; turboprop aircraft deliveries increase 10.4%, with 582 units; and business jet deliveries increase to 712 units from 710. The value of aircraft deliveries for 2022 was $22.9bn, an increase of approximately 5.8%.
Piston helicopter deliveries for 2022, when compared with 2021, saw an increase of 7.2%, with 194 units; and preliminary civil-commercial turbine helicopter increase 7.6%, with 682 units. The preliminary value of helicopter deliveries for 2022 was $4bn, an increase of approximately 6.8%.
Leonardo Helicopters’ fourth quarter data was not available at the time of publication. Leonardo Helicopters will release year-end results in March.
Image: Gerd Altmann from Pixabay
