The general and business aviation industry has endured a great deal since the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic. We have faced numerous challenges and our resiliency has been tested, but our manufacturers and maintenance providers have actively managed their way through the past two years with a focus on the safety of employees and the growth of the industry. As we begin to come out of the pandemic, we are seeing that our industry is alive with new developments and has a keen eye on the future.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association’s (GAMA's) 2021 General Aviation Aircraft Shipments and Billings Report, which was released in late February, showed that our industry is healthy and growing. The strength and tenacity of the general aviation industry and its workforce has provided a strong foundation for us to rebound from pandemic-related setbacks with a powerful showing in 2021.
Overall, when compared to 2020, all aircraft segments — piston airplanes, turboprops, business jets, piston helicopters and turbine helicopters — saw increases in shipments and preliminary aircraft deliveries were valued at $25.2 billion, an increase of 10.2 percent. Currently, total aircraft shipments are converging on figures that were seen before the outset of the pandemic.
In 2021, the piston airplane segment saw its highest deliveries reported in over a decade, even exceeding the pre-pandemic shipments reported in 2019. These figures align with the growing demand for primary training aircraft.
Turboprop airplane shipments showed strong growth when compared to 2020 and are back to pre-pandemic levels. The market share of the turboprop segment shows its utility and diversity. The turboprop segment of our market has also led the way in embracing the novel safety capability of the Collier Trophy-winning Autoland system developed by the Garmin team across several airplane models.
Business jet deliveries are growing compared to 2020 and beginning to converge on pre-pandemic levels. When you examine the grouping of weight segments of business jets, light, medium and large, you see that all three segments rebounded, which is different from what we experienced after the 2008 financial crisis when large business jets remained strong while smaller jets declined significantly in delivery rates.
Both the piston and turbine helicopter segments also bounced back in 2021. While the helicopter market has experienced highs and lows over the last decade, their deliveries remain healthy, particularly in the return in deliveries seen compared to 2020.
In addition to aircraft deliveries, we are seeing flight traffic at record levels as well as heightened interest from new customers and buyers of general and business aviation aircraft. Maintenance activity has also returned to pre-pandemic levels, while at the same time, career opportunities within in the maintenance and manufacturing organizations remain plentiful.
As the excitement across our industry continues to grow, so do our developments in design, technology and manufacturing. There is a continued focus on new and innovative technologies that improve utility and safety as well as advancements that improve efficiencies of aircraft.
The aviation manufacturing and maintenance industry is an integral part of the U.S. economy and transportation system. It will be important that we continue to focus on growing our workforce to sustain our resurgence. Our industry stands ready to continue forging forward to create opportunities and bolster our growth.
Pete Bunce is the president and CEO of GAMA, an international trade association representing more than 100 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components and related services. GAMA’s members also operate repair stations, fixed based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities and they manage fleets of aircraft. You can read more about GAMA’s activities on our Web site at www.gama.aero and on our Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/#!/General.Aviation.Manufacturers.Association.
