POSITIVE SIGNS FOR AIRCRAFT INDUSTRY
09 Aug 2012
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FIGURES for the first half of 2012 show the general aviation industry is starting to recover from the devastating drop in sales after the worldwide economic problems.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has just released the results of the first six months of general aviation industry shipments and billings. Airplane shipments increased 5.9 percent in the first six months of 2012 compared to 2011 while the accompanying value of the airplane deliveries rose 13.2 percent.
“We are starting to see positive signs in the 2012 shipment data,” said GAMA’s president and CEO, Pete Bunce.
“When coupled with the positive trend we are seeing in the used market, we may finally be witnessing the start of our recovery."
Business jet deliveries increased 13.1 percent to 294 airplanes in the first half of 2012 compared to the same period last year. Turboprop airplane deliveries also improved to 243 units from the 2011 shipment level of 220 units. The piston engine airplane segment was basically flat at 381 deliveries or a 1.6 percent decline compared to the first six months of 2011.
One surprising bright spot is sales of agricultural aircraft - cropsprayers. Air Tractor and Thrush Aircraft are included in the GAMA figures for the first time. Air Tractor is the market leader and it sold 43 of its AT-502B workhorse, worth $37 million. The AT-502B has a 500-gallon payload, 52ft wingspan and is fitted with air conditioning.
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