GAMA

NAFA member, Pete Bunce, General Aviation Manufacturers Association's (GAMA) President and CEO, releases Second Quarter Aircraft Shipment Report.

Washington, DC — The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today published a mid-year industry update with the release of preliminary second quarter 2019 aircraft shipment and billings data. Piston and business jet deliveries increased through the first six months of 2019 compared to the same time period in 2018, while turboprop airplane and rotorcraft shipments were lower.

“While the year-to-date aircraft shipments are mixed, this should not obscure the outlook for a bright future for general aviation. Our mid-year report shows new aircraft reaching entry into service milestones with additional models expected to enter into service before the end of 2019,” said GAMA’s President & CEO, Pete Bunce. “Our members remain focused on bringing safety enhancing new technology to the general aviation fleet and upgrading aircraft to meet fast approaching global mandates for Automatic Dependent Surveillance-Broadcast (ADS-B) and datalink communications. Additionally, our industry’s continued emphasis on developing airframes, engines, and avionics that improve fuel efficiency, our aggressive pursuit of hybrid and electrically propelled air vehicles, and promotion of the build out of the Sustainable Aviation Fuel infrastructure, should make us all proud of our collective commitment to environmental sustainability.”

The piston market continued to lead the increase in deliveries at 567 units, up 15.2% from the same period in 2018. Business jet shipments increased by 12.5% in the first six months of 2019 to 316 airplanes delivered. Turboprop airplanes, however, declined in deliveries from 260 to 231 units from the same reporting companies. The value of airplane deliveries through the first six months of 2019 was $9.0 billion, an increase of approximately 12.9%.

Rotorcraft deliveries slowed in the first six months of 2019. Piston rotorcraft shipments declined from 149 units to 110 units. The industry delivered 299 turbine rotorcraft, a reduction by 11.3% compared to 2018. The value of rotorcraft shipments was $1.5 billion, a decline of approximately 13.1%.

Note: Second quarter shipment data was not available from three airplane manufacturers at the time of publication. GAMA will update the report online when the data has been released by the companies. The above comparison table does not include second quarter 2018 data from these three manufacturers.

This press release was originally published by GAMA on August 12, 2019.

NAFA member, Pete Bunce, President and CEO of General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) releases first quarter 2019 aircraft shipment and billings report.

Washington, DC — The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today published its first quarter 2019 aircraft shipment and billings report. Results showed increases across the airplane segments of the industry, but a slowdown in rotorcraft shipments compared to the first quarter of 2018.

“While our rotorcraft segment experienced some headwinds, our airplane segment remains strong,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “Statements by our member companies point to solid order intakes during the first quarter, laying down a positive marker for later in 2019.”

The piston airplane market led the increase in deliveries at 248 units, a 24.0% increase from the same period in 2018. Turboprop and business shipments also increased year-over-year, at 7.0% and 6.8% respectively. Piston rotorcraft shipments in the first quarter of 2019 were 66 units, compared to 77 units in 2018. There were 104 turbine rotorcraft shipments in the first quarter of 2019, compared to 134 in the first quarter last year.

Click here to view the first quarter report. 

For additional information, please contact Jens Hennig, GAMA Vice President, Operations, at jhennig@gama.aero.

This press release was originally published by GAMA on May 17, 2019.

NAFA member, GAMA, releases the latest Harris Poll survey findings.

Orlando, FL –– The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today joined with the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA) to release the findings of the latest survey conducted by The Harris Poll demonstrating the value of business aviation in providing safe, efficient transportation to companies of all sizes, particularly those located in smaller communities with little to no commercial airline service.

“The Real World of Business Aviation: 2018 Survey of Companies Using General Aviation Aircraft,” represents a statistically valid representation of the use of business aircraft. The following are among the survey’s key findings:

• Most users of business aviation are small companies employing 500 or fewer workers. Sixty-two percent of pilots and flight department leaders (identified as "pilots" for survey purposes) stated their companies utilize a single, turbine-powered aircraft.
• Many business aircraft are largely flown to towns with little or no airline service, with pilots reporting that, on average, 31.5 percent of their flights over the past year were to destinations lacking any scheduled airline service.
• Scheduling flexibility remains a key driver for business aviation, with 51.6 of passengers stating that traveling on business aircraft enables them to keep business schedules that could not be met efficiently using the scheduled airlines.
• A significant portion of business aircraft passengers are technical specialists, managers and other company employees, as well as customers. These passengers spend an average of 63 percent of their time on board business aircraft engaged in work, compared to just 42 percent when traveling commercially. Furthermore, two-thirds of these passengers say they are more productive on business aircraft flights than when they are in the office.
• During the past year, 38 percent of pilots reported flying business aircraft on humanitarian missions, averaging three such missions annually.

"Since 2009, we've said, 'No Plane No Gain,' and this updated survey confirms the power of the slogan," said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. "General aviation aircraft are indispensable business productivity tools, allowing flexibility, connectivity and efficiency. But they are also on the front line, providing an essential transportation and supply link for those in need around the world."

“Once again, we see that business aviation is a vital tool for companies of all sizes, enabling passengers to use their travel time for more effectively and efficiently than alternatives, while also providing critical lift to smaller communities and areas in need of emergency relief,” NBAA President and CEO Ed Bolen said.

The Harris Poll conducted 202 online interviews of pilots, flight department managers and directors of flight operations or aviation for this survey, with 276 interviews among passengers on business aircraft. Its findings are in line with previous Harris Poll surveys in 1997, 2009 and 2015. Like those examples, the 2018 study was conducted on behalf the No Plane No Gain industry advocacy campaign, co-founded by NBAA and GAMA.

View the complete survey.

This press release was originally published by GAMA on October 16, 2018.

NAFA member, GAMA shares good news for the general aviation industry from the U.S. House of Representatives.  

Washington, DC –– The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today applauded the U.S. House of Representatives for passing legislation authorizing the programs of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) for five years and advancing key priorities for the general aviation manufacturing and maintenance industry.

“We are thrilled to see a long-term FAA reauthorization bill that will strengthen the general aviation industry, mandate needed reforms, and provide certainty for the entire aviation sector,” said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. “We thank the House of Representatives and the bipartisan leadership of the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, including Chairman Bill Shuster (R-PA), Ranking Member Peter DeFazio (D-OR), Aviation Subcommittee Chairman Frank LoBiondo (R-NJ) and Ranking Member Rick Larsen (D-WA), for their work on this important legislation. We encourage the U.S. Senate to pass the measure expeditiously.”

H.R. 302, which authorizes the FAA through September 30, 2023, includes numerous provisions that will improve aviation safety, streamline regulatory burdens, strengthen job creation, encourage competitiveness and innovation, and stimulate exports. Specifically, the bill:

• Requires the U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary establish a Safety Oversight and Certification Advisory Committee that includes representatives of commercial and general aviation, including aircraft, engine, and avionics manufacturers, and maintenance, repair and overhaul organizations. The Committee’s work will focus on certification and regulatory process reform, safety management systems, rulemaking improvements and enhancing global competitiveness;
• Strengthens the effectiveness of the Organizational Designation Authorization (ODA) process and oversight to enhance the predictability and efficiency of the certification process for new products and technology;
• Sends a clear message to the FAA to improve safety cooperation with international partners, facilitate improvements and end delays in the validation and acceptance of aviation products;
• Requires the FAA establish a comprehensive regulatory database and a Regulatory Communications Consistency Board to reduce regulatory inconsistency at the agency;
• Calls for the FAA to establish a Task Force on Flight Standards Reform to help drive needed improvements in the FAA Flight Standards Office. The Task Force includes manufacturers and will look at how the certification, operational evaluation and entry into service of newly manufactured aircraft can be improved;
• Asks the Government Accountability Office (GAO) to conduct a review of the FAA’s Part 23 rulemaking implementation to ensure the agency is working with industry to maximize the rulemaking’s effectiveness;  
• Mandates the FAA Aircraft Registry Office in Oklahoma City remain open in the event of a government shutdown or emergency furlough; and
• Addresses the aviation workforce shortage by establishing a ‘Youth Access to American Jobs in Aviation Task Force’ and a ‘Women in Aviation Advisory Board’; directs the GAO to initiate a study on the current and future supply of aviation and aerospace workforce; and establishes a pilot grant program to train pilots and maintenance and technical workers.

For additional information, please contact Sarah McCann, GAMA Director of Communications, at +1 (202) 637-1375 or smccann@gama.aero.

This original article was published by GAMA on September 26, 2018.

Washington, DC ­­— The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) and 32 other aviation industry organizations today sent a letter to U.S. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY) and U.S. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY), urging them to have the Senate move expeditiously to consider legislation for a long-term reauthorization of the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). “It is essential that the FAA is provided long-term authorization for its activities and programs to maintain and advance the safest, most efficient aerospace system in the world,” the groups, spanning representatives of general aviation, labor, commercial and cargo airlines, drones, manufacturers and more, wrote. “The U.S. aviation sector supports nearly 11 million jobs and contributes $1.6 trillion in economic activity. The aerospace industry needs dependable authority from the FAA and policymakers to continue to provide the highest level of service for aviation customers and meet the needs of the aviation industry and workforce.” Congress has not enacted a multi-year authorization bill for the FAA since 2012, a bill that expired almost three years ago. Since September 2015, the agency has been working under a series of short-term extensions, including the current measure expiring on September 30, 2018. The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed its version of a long-term reauthorization bill (H.R. 4). The signatories of this letter believe it is imperative for the U.S. Senate to complete its consideration of S. 1405 as soon as possible, to allow adequate time for House and Senate negotiators to reach a final conference agreement by the end of September. “There is bipartisan support for moving the FAA bill forward now to ensure safety, economic benefits, regulatory reform, and international competitiveness through a long-term reauthorization bill for the FAA,” the groups concluded. “We are eager to assist you in securing consideration of this important legislation and we appreciate your leadership.” The complete letter is attached. For additional information, please contact Sarah McCann, GAMA Director of Communications, at +1 (202) 637-1375 or smccann@gama.aero. This article was originally published by GAMA on August 15, 2018.