Bumper delivery figures have seen several models record their best annual results for years as piston-powered aeroplanes grew more than 16% in 2019.
According to the figures released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) overnight, the 2019 GA market was worth $US26.8 billion, with 2658 aircraft delivered right around the world, an increase of 9% over 2018.
GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said the GA industry was bouyant about the future after the results were published.
"The 2019 year-end numbers reveal that overall, the general aviation manufacturing industry is vibrant, although we are encountering headwinds in the rotorcraft sector," Bunce said. "It is great to see two of our fixed wing sectors, piston airplane and business jet shipments, reached decade highs.
"Looking ahead, manufacturers are excited about the future, especially given the ongoing innovation in manufacturing that directly relate to safety and the progress being made in the development of supersonic and electrically propelled aircraft.
“GAMA and its member companies will support this momentum and technological advancement through our workforce, sustainability, regulatory and legislative efforts.”
Leading the piston charge for the year were Piper's Archer III, Cirrus' SR22 and Diamond's DA40 and DA42.
Piper recorded shipments of 66 Archer IIIs to bring the yearly figure to 182 aircraft, which is their best result since 2000 and could be the best ever year for the model. Diamond's four-seat single DA40 also had a great Q4, with deliveries of 47 giving a final total of 126 shipments and putting them in second place in the category. It is the best year for the DA40 since 2013.
The Cirrus SR22/T already had a stranglehold on the lead in the high-powered piston single market, but still booked an annual result of 331 aircraft in 2019. That is the best result for Cirrus since the global financial crisis put the clamps on the GA market in 2009. Cirrus delivered approximately 10 times more SR22/Ts for 2019 than it's nearest rival, the Cessna C182T, even though the Cessna had a decent Q4 itself, with figures up 18% over Q4 2018.
Diamond had another win with the DA42 Twin Star, reporting 59 aircraft shipped for Q4, which is an increase of 321% over the 14 sent out for the same period in 2018. The result made the DA42 the most delivered twin for the year, its 77 deliveries easily eclipsing the 40 shipments reported for both the Piper Seminole and the Tecnam P2006T.
The single-engined turbo-prop sector was relatively flat in Q4 2019, with only modest 6-7% growths reported for most models except the Cessna Caravan, demand for which contracted by 16% against the same period in 2018. For the year, the SETP sector was down 9%, with only Pilatus PC12 recording any growth at all, a mere 4%.
The newcomers were the superstars of the light jet market with Cirrus' SF50 Vision and Pilatus PC-24 the only two spikes in a flat segment. The SF50's score of 29 aircraft was 32% up on the previous year's 22 and the PC-24 continued its ramp-up with 13 aircraft shipped, its best result since certification in December 2017. The SF50 led the market in 2019 with 81 aircraft delivered to customers. Embraer's Phenom 100/300 finished the year closest to the Cirrus with 62 shipments.
Overall, 2019 was a very good year for general aviation as the upward trend first seen in 2017 continued. Shipments have increased 18% over the 2016 results, adding another $US 3 billion to the industry.
Major Aircraft Shipments Q4 2018
Aircraft | Q4 2019 | Q4 2018 | Change |
Piper Warrior III | 0 | 0 | 0% |
Cessna C172SP | 46 | 45 | 2% |
Piper Archer III | 66 | 35 | 89% |
Diamond DA40 | 47 | 14 | 236% |
Cirrus SR20 | 12 | 10 | 20% |
Tecnam P2010 | 8 | 5 | 60% |
Cessna C182T | 13 | 11 | 18% |
Beech G36 Bonanza | 2 | 7 | -71% |
Cirrus SR22/T | 114 | 108 | 6% |
Cessna TTx | 0 | 0 | - |
Piper M350/Matrix | 5 | 7 | -29% |
Mooney Ovation/Acclaim | 1 | 5 | -80% |
Beech G58 Baron | 8 | 7 | 14% |
Piper Seminole | 15 | 13 | 15% |
Piper Seneca V | 3 | 2 | 50% |
Diamond DA42 | 59 | 14 | 321% |
Tecnam P2006T | 10 | 8 | 25% |
Diamond DA62 | 8 | 10 | -20% |
Cessna Caravan Series | 27 | 32 | -16% |
Quest Kodiak 100 | 5 | 3 | 67% |
Pilatus PC12 | 31 | 29 | 7% |
Daher TBM 900-940 | 18 | 17 | 6% |
PAC 750XL | 1 | 3 | -67% |
Piper Meridian/M500/M600 | 19 | 18 | 6% |
Cessna Mustang & M2 | 13 | 12 | 8% |
Eclipse 550 | 0 | 0 | - |
Embraer Phenom 100 & 300 | 20 | 24 | -17% |
Honda HA420 | 11 | 16 | -31% |
SF50 Vision | 29 | 22 | 32% |
Pilatus PC24 | 13 | 9 | 44% |
Cessna T206H | 16 | 12 | 33% |
GippsAero Airvan 8 | 1 | 3 | -67% |
Major Aircraft Shipments Year End 2019 verses Year End 2018
Aircraft | 2019 | 2018 | Change |
Piper Warrior III | 0 | 0 | - |
Cessna C172SP | 126 | 129 | -2% |
Piper Archer III | 182 | 107 | 70% |
Diamond DA40 | 126 | 45 | 180% |
Cirrus SR20 | 53 | 65 | -18% |
Tecnam P2010 | 34 | 20 | 70% |
Cessna C182T | 33 | 31 | 6% |
Beech G36 Bonanza | 7 | 15 | -53% |
Cirrus SR22/T | 331 | 315 | 5% |
Cessna TTx | 0 | ||
Piper M350/Matrix | 21 | 20 | 5% |
Mooney Ovation/Acclaim | 9 | 14 | -36% |
Beech G58 Baron | 15 | 19 | -21% |
Piper Seminole | 40 | 37 | 8% |
Piper Seneca V | 3 | 2 | 50% |
Diamond DA42 | 77 | 50 | 54% |
Tecnam P2006T | 40 | 41 | -2% |
Diamond DA62 | 30 | 36 | -17% |
Cessna Caravan Series | 83 | 92 | -10% |
Quest Kodiak 100 | 20 | 23 | -13% |
Pilatus PC12 | 83 | 80 | 4% |
Daher TBM 900/930 | 48 | 50 | -4% |
PAC 750XL | 6 | 11 | -45% |
Piper Meridian/M500/M600 | 44 | 56 | -21% |
Cessna Mustang and M2 | 34 | 34 | 0% |
Eclipse 550 | 0 | 0 | - |
Embraer Phenom 100 & 300 | 62 | 64 | -3% |
Honda HA420 | 36 | 37 | -3% |
Cirrus SF50 Vision | 81 | 63 | 29% |
Pilatus PC24 | 40 | 18 | 122% |
Cessna T206H | 37 | 32 | 16% |
GippsAero Airvan 8 | 12 | 7 | 71% |