First nine months 2011 of shipments and billings

The General Aviation Manufacturers
Association (GAMA) reported recently that worldwide deliveries of general
aviation airplanes in the first nine months of 2011 dropped 9.8 percent as
compared to the same period last year, to a total of 1,227 units. Industry
billings fell 10.2 percent, from $13.5 billion to $12.1 billion.
 
“These shipments and billings numbers show some improvement over the sharper
decline experienced in first half of 2011,” said Pete Bunce, GAMA’s president
and chief executive. “However, considering the fragility of the economies
in the traditional markets of North America and Europe,
this is not the time for new, undue government burdens to be imposed on general
aviation. Misguided tax policies that single out our industry, unquestionably
endanger jobs. Policymakers should be focused on initiatives that
encourage investment in our industry and grow jobs.”

Piston-powered airplane shipments totaled
577 units compared to 633 units delivered in the first nine months of the year,
an 8.8 percent decrease. Turboprop shipments declined 5.9 percent to 223 units
in 2011, compared to 237 units during this same period in 2010. Business jet
shipments totaled 427 units, a 13.0 percent decrease as compared to 491
units delivered in the first nine months of last year.