GAMA’s 1Q12 Numbers Show Turboprop Rebound

While the number of business jet deliveries and overall industry billings continued to slide in the first quarter of 2012, there was a minor retrenchment for the turboprop segment, according to numbers released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).

For the first quarter of the year, OEMs handed over 122 business jets, a 4.7 percent decrease from the 128 it delivered in same period last year. However, the number of turboprop deliveries rose by two to 63, representing 3.3-percent gain year-over-year. With a decrease from $3.68 billion to $3.39 billion, billings for the industry saw an 8 percent drop from the first three months of last year.