By Daniel McCoy
Global shipments of general aviation aircraft increased 4.2 percent in the third quarter, up to 1,393 total shipments, according to new data from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association.
Total billings for those shipments also increased, up 1.4 percent to $12.3 billion year over year.
Turboprops fared the best in terms of shipments, increasing 10.5 percent to 368. Shipments of piston aircraft rose 3.5 percent to 597, while business jet shipments increased by just 0.2 percent to 428 — one more total shipment than in the third quarter of 2011.
According to the GAMA numbers, shipments of Wichita-built Cessna Aircraft Co. products fell from 165 to 119 year over year. Billings for those aircraft, however, increased from $451 million to $460 million.
Shipments of Hawker Beechcraft Corp. products increased year over year, climbing by three to 36. Billings for those aircraft declined, though, dropping from $257 million to $240 million. Hawker’s military shipments fell from 23 to 13 year over year.
Shipments of Wichita-built Bombardier Learjets fell from 17 to 9. Specific Learjet billing numbers were not available, but all Bombardier general aviation products totaled $1.5 billion in the third quarter, down from $1.6 billion the previous year.
http://www.bizjournals.com/wichita/news/2012/11/07/general-aviation-shipments-rose-in-q3.html