General Aviation Deliveries Mixed in 2013

WICHITA, Kan. (AP) — According to a recent industry report, General aviation aircraft deliveries and billings rose overall last year, but the market was mixed depending on aircraft type.

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), the industry trade group that compiles the data, released a mid-February report showing that deliveries of piston airplanes, turboprops, and large business jets rose last year, while deliveries of small and midsize jets fell for a third straight year.

According to a report in The Wichita Eagle, the trend played out in Wichita as well. Cessna Aircraft and Bombardier Learjet recorded lower deliveries last year while shipments at Beechcraft - builders of Bonanzas, Barons, and King Airs, but no business jets - rose.

Manufacturers worldwide delivered 2,256 airplanes last year, up 4 percent from 2,164 in 2012. Billings rose from $18.9 billion in 2012 to $23.4 billion, a 24 percent increase.

Pete Bunce, the association's president and CEO, said those positive numbers overall are fueling cautious optimism for this year. He also said that the introduction of new products will be key to future growth. "Virtually everybody's got a development program - some announced, some not announced," Bunce said. That is expected help the light and midsize business jet market, where demand remains soft.

Manufacturers worldwide delivered 933 piston airplanes in 2013, up nearly 3 percent from 908 planes in the previous year. Billings were up 26 percent. However, piston deliveries still fall short of last decade's peak, when plane makers shipped about 2,700 piston planes.

Deliveries of turboprops were up 10 percent with 645 shipped last year. Billings were up 34 percent. Business jet deliveries totaling 678 last year were up less than 1 percent, although billings were up 23 percent.

The high end of the general aviation market grew the most, with 249 large business jets delivered in 2013, compared to 204 the previous year. But shipments of light and midsize jets fell with just 77 light jets delivered in 2013, down from 89 a year earlier. Manufacturers delivered 352 midsize jets, down from 379 in 2012.