Trainer Demand bolsters Q2 Shipment Figures

Demand for training aircraft drove a 6.4% increase in delivery figures for the second quarter of 2018, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) figures released yesterday.

Cessna's C172SP, Piper's Archer and Seminole, Cirrus' SR20 and Tecnam's P2006T all recorded healthy increases in shipment figures, which GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said was behind the good results in the training sector.

"Though this quarter’s results are mixed, we are glad to see that demands for training aircraft are driving increase in the piston and rotorcraft segments,” he said.

“We hope the continued interest in training aircraft as well as in new, safety-enhancing products and technology our member companies are bringing to the market will continue to drive increases in future quarters, and drive increases in people joining the industry’s workforce."

Piper shipped 22 Archers and two Arrows for the April-June 2018 period as well as 10 twin-engined Seminoles, and Cessna delivered 41 C172SPs. Compared to the same period last year, the Archer is up 83%, the Seminole 400% and the Skyhawk SP 32%. Most notably, the Seminole out-sold Diamond's DA42 for only the third time since the beginning of 2013, with the Twin Star's five airframes 64% down on Q2 2017.

In all, the Chinese-owned Diamond had a disappointing quarter with shipments for the DA40, DA42 and DA62 all down compared to last year.

Although it was 10% down, the Cirrus SR22/T continued to dominate the fast single market, which is one member down with Cessna withdrawing the TTx from sale. The Piper M350 was also up 200% over last year, which contributed to the company's optimistic outlook on the entire quarter.

Cessna's Caravan continues to be king of the single-engined turbo-props in a segment that is due for a shake-up next year with the Epic E1000 entering the market and the Cessna Denali expected in the next five years. Pilatus, Daher and Quest all reported relatively steady shipments compared with Q2 2017.

The big mover for the quarter was, understandably, the Cirrus SF50 Vision jet, of which 15 examples were shipped to customers. The Vision sold only two for Q2 2017, but the type had been certified only a few months before. The increase in deliveries will reflect the ramp-up in production rather than a pure increase in demand. Regardless, the SF50 is now equal first in the light jet segment alongside the Phenom 100/300.

Major Aircraft Shipments Q2 2018