Piper Aircraft has reported a 36% increase in aircraft shipments for the first quarter of 2018, led mainly by the M600 SETP and strong demand for the trainer series.
Piper delivered 34 aircraft for Q1 2018 compared with the 25 aircraft of Q1 2017. It is the best Q1 result for the Vero Beach manufacturer since 2014, when they also shipped 34 aircraft.
The result is encouraging for Piper as they recover from a low point in early 2015 when they were forced to layoff 15-20% of their workforce due to soft demand.
"Our first quarter performance is a strong indicator of the demand for all Piper products across the board and continues the consistent growth in sales that we began to experience in 2016," said Piper President and CEO Simon Caldecott.
"It is important to note that not only did M-Class sales increase, but deliveries of our trainer products continued to grow as well. In the first quarter of 2018 we delivered nearly 16% more trainers than we did in Q1 of 2017, which was a combination of the single engine Archer, the single engine, complex Arrow and the twin engine Seminole.
"With our unwavering commitment to trainer market, along with the only complete trainer line of products, we expect demand for Piper trainer products to remain strong."
In February this year, Piper took the largest aircraft order in the company's 81-year history when China's Fanmei Aviation Technology ordered 100 Archers, 50 Seminoles, a Seneca and an M350.
Piper's shipment announcement comes ahead of the General Aviation Manufacturer's Association figures which are due to be released in the USA on 10 May.