GAMA releases 2010 GA aircraft sales figures

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced in late February the 2010 worldwide shipments of GA aircraft.

In 2010 worldwide shipments of GA aircraft declined for the third consecutive year to a total of 2015 units, an 11.4 per cent decrease over the 2009 total of 2274.

Of those 2015 aircraft, a total of 889 were piston aircraft, compared to 963 units in 2009; 363 were turboprops, compared to 441 the previous year; and the remaining 763 were business jets, down from 870 in 2009.

Of the major manufacturers, Cessna led the way in 2010 with 534 total aircraft deliveries, 87 of which were Grand Caravans and another 77 C172S Skyhawks. However, Cirrus took the crown in 2010 for the most delivered model, with 165 out of its total 264 deliveries being its popular SR22.

Of the other leading manufacturers, Austria’s Diamond delivered 139 aircraft, with its DA40 leading the way with 57; 160 Pipers were delivered, with the Malibu Mirage pipping the Meridian for most popular at 26; Hawker Beechcraft registered 214 deliveries with its King Air 350 proving most popular with 38; Embraer’s 145 deliveries were dominated by 100 Phenom 100s; and Daher Socata and Pilatus racked up 38 TBM 850 and 79 PC-12 turboprop deliveries, respectively.

Closer to home, GippsAero delivered 14 GA8 Airvans in 2010 and New Zealand’s Pacific Aerospace 11 PAC 750XLs.

While the numbers were still down in the wake of the global financial crisis that continued to negatively impact GA aircraft manufacturers in 2010, GAMA Chairman John Rosanvallon, President and CEO of Dassault Falcon, reported that signs of recovery have started to emerge.

“Despite the pain caused by the downturn we are now seeing strong GDP growth on a global level and corporate profits are up,” Rosanvallon said. “This bodes well for General Aviation’s future as shipments have traditionally lagged an economic recovery by one to two years.”

And Rosanvallon underscored the fact that it was emerging aviation markets such as the Asia Pacific region that are leading the recovery.

“Markets other than North America and Europe are leading the global recovery [and]
flying hours are steadily on the rise.”

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