The general aviation industry, including Wichita’s Bombardier Learjet and Textron Aviation, delivered more business jets in 2014, according to a General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s report released Wednesday.
GAMA’s General Aviation Shipment Report said worldwide business jet deliveries increased 6.5 percent.
For Wichita’s business jet makers, year-over-year deliveries rose by double-digit percentages.
Learjet delivered 34 jets in 2014, a 17 percent increase from 29 deliveries in 2013, the report said.
In the same period, Textron Aviation’s Cessna Aircraft Co. delivered 159 business jets compared with 139 the year before, a 14 percent increase.
Piston engine aircraft deliveries also were higher in 2014, increasing 9.6 percent worldwide. Cessna delivered 155 piston aircraft last year compared with 122 in 2013. Textron Aviation’s other subsidiary, Beechcraft, delivered 72 piston airplanes compared with 70 in the same period, the report said.
The only category of fixed-wing aircraft deliveries that fell year over year was turboprops, which the GAMA report said was down 6.5 percent to 603 deliveries.
GAMA president Pete Bunce said in an interview that despite decline in turboprop deliveries, overall prospects are improving for the industry.
“We feel the trajectory is very positive for the industry,” Bunce said.
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