The third-quarter airplane shipment numbers released last month by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) starkly demonstrate the effect the economic downturn has had on the OEMs so far this year, following last year’s record deliveries. The industry posted declines in the jet, turboprop and piston segments, corresponding with the payroll reductions made by nearly all manufacturers, while total industry billings decreased by 23.5 percent, to just under $14 billion for the period. “The shipment and billings figures are a result of this difficult business cycle and reflect the impact of the weak economy,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. He added, “Another contributing factor that has led to the disappointing year-to-year numbers is the unwarranted negative attacks on business aviation.”
During the first three quarters of the year, airframers delivered 615 business jets, a decline of nearly 38 percent from the 988 shipped during the same period in last year’s peak production year. A major portion of that deficit came from the demise of former VLJ maker Eclipse Aviation, which contributed 155 jets to last year’s three-quarter total but shut its doors before it could add to this year’s tally.
