10 May 2016
Cirrus is the only winner in the latest set of aircraft shipment figures covering the first quarter of 2016. Cirrus shipped 57 of its SR single-engine piston aircraft during Q1, up from 43 in the same period last year.
The figures are contained in the latest report on the state of the market by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Overall, the General Aviation market is down on 2015. Total aircraft sales in Q1 2016 were 422 aircraft (438 in Q1 2015), with helicopters taking a bigger hit, with Q1 2016 shipments of 163 (201 in Q1 2015). The reason given by GAMA is that the low oil price is affecting sales to the oil and gas industry.
Total sales on Single-Engine Piston (SEP) aircraft were 167 in Q1 2016 (176 Q1 2015). Multi Engine Piston aircraft 24 (17). Single-Engine Turboprops 82 (91), Multi-Engine Turboprops 24 (17). Business jets were down too, with 122 shipments (128).
Diamond Aircraft were down with 30 shipments (37), and Cessna was hard-hit despite having the 182T Skylane back in production with 27 shipments (44). Cessna’s business jets did better with 46 shipments – the same as 2015.
“The entire industry is feeling the impact of retrenchment in the energy sector as well as global geopolitical and economic insecurity,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce.
“Despite these headwinds, our industry continues to invest in research, development, and certification of more efficient and safe products. Therefore, actions taken by elected officials to stimulate R&D and improve regulator efficiency have a far-reaching impact on the economy.”
