Total worldwide general aviation aircraft shipments in the first quarter increased 11.9 percent, from 447 units in 2013 to 500 units in 2014, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported.
Billings for GA airplanes totaled $5.1 billion during the three-month period, up 9 percent from the same time last year.
Piston airplane shipments increased 21.4 percent from 182 last year to 221 shipments. The number of piston airplane shipments, however, remains below the 2006 peak, when there were 600 shipments in the first quarter, GAMA said. Turboprop shipments declined 8.1 percent to 125 shipments. Business jet shipments came in stronger at 154 airplane shipments, up 19.4 percent from first quarter of 2013.