3 December 2024
Sales of new General Aviation aircraft remain healthy, according to figures just released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), despite the European Union’s ‘squeeze on aviation’.
The latest General Aviation Aircraft Shipment and Billing Report covering the third quarter of 2024 shows an increase in the overall value of aircraft shipments and increased shipments of piston aeroplanes, business jets and turbine helicopters, with turboprops and piston helicopters shipments in line with the first nine months of 2023.
Pete Bunce, President and CEO of GAMA, said, “The health of our industry remains stable, which allows our companies to invest in technology and innovation that drives improved safety and sustainability for all civil aviation sectors.
“With new sessions and assemblies of governments set to convene shortly in both the U.S. and Europe, GAMA will continue to make the case to government leaders about the essential nature of the general and business aviation industry.”
However, it’s not all roses. GAMA recently published a critical opinion piece on news website Politico saying, “European regulators are contemplating increased taxes and flight restrictions on business aviation, a misguided strategy that could cripple this vital enabler of the EU’s single market and its four fundamental freedoms.
“The short-sighted measures under discussion include French Prime Minister Barnier’s proposal to triple France’s ‘solidarity tax,’ first introduced in 2006, for all commercial airfares. If approved, it would be applied to commercial business aviation flights at a spectacular €3,000 per passenger rate on long-haul flights.”
The article went on to explain the benefits of business aviation.
“Business aviation creates a cascade of jobs – from aircraft designers and manufacturers to pilots, mechanics and airport staff.
“And, with its point-to-point travel options, business aviation enables travellers to fly directly to hundreds of airports that are not reached, either directly or at all, by commercial airline services.”
Sales are good for Air Tractor’s specialist aircraft. Photo: Air Tractor
Aircraft shipments through the third quarter of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023, saw piston aeroplanes increase 7.5% with 1,221 units, turboprops were in line with 435 units, and business jets increase 10.1% with 501 units.
The value of aeroplane deliveries through the third quarter of 2024 was $17.3 billion, an increase of 20.5%.
Helicopter shipments through the third quarter of 2024, when compared to the same period in 2023, saw piston helicopter in line with 156 units, and turbine helicopter increase 1.9% with 478 units. The value of helicopter deliveries was $2.7 billion.
Among the stand-out performers was Air Tractor, which makes agricultural aircraft such as crop-sprayers, with 159 aircraft shipped for a total value of $243 million. That’s a higher sales value than Diamond Aircraft (194 aircraft shipped, value $157m), Tecnam (218 a/c, $94m) and level with Piper Aircraft (184 a/c, $243m).
GAMA’s complete 2024 third quarter report can be found here.
The 2024 year-end shipment and billing report will be published in February 2025.
