Today,\nthe General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released its report of\ngeneral aviation aircraft shipments and billings through the second quarter of 2020 (June\n30). Piston, turboprop, business jet and helicopter deliveries declined across\nall segments during the first six months of 2020 as compared to the same period\nof 2019.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIt\nshould come as no surprise to anyone that the COVID-19 pandemic severely impacted\nthe general aviation industry and its global operations in the second quarter.\nDuring those months, while the global aerospace supply chain was significantly\ndegraded and national, state and local pandemic restrictions changed routinely\non both sides of the Atlantic, many companies supplemented their activities to\nsupport the health care response with the manufacture and distribution of\npersonal protective equipment. With facilities conducting operations in a \u2018new\nnormal\u2019 work environment, what has been very encouraging is that the supply\nchain has begun to stabilize and robust screening procedures and innovative\nwork station COVID-19 mitigation protocols have resulted in very few virus\ntransmission incidents,\u201d said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. \u201cWhile\ncontinued mandated and voluntary restrictions on international business travel\nare producing stiff headwinds, flight activity for business aviation has\nappeared to return to around 85 percent of pre-pandemic levels in U.S. domestic\nairspace, while piston, turboprop and rotorcraft flight activity has actually\nincreased. Many travelers have also opted to explore the utility of general and\nbusiness aviation for the first time, which we hope will translate into future\ncustomers for the incredible and versatile products and services our industry\nhas to offer.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Aircraft\nshipments through the first six months of 2020, when compared to the same\nperiod in 2019, saw piston airplane deliveries decline 13.3%, with 497 units;\nturboprop airplane deliveries decline 34.2%, with 152 units; and business jet\ndeliveries decline 26.7%, with 244 units. The value of airplane deliveries\nthrough the second quarter of 2020 was $7.9 billion, a decline of approximately\n20.2%.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Turbine\nhelicopter deliveries for the first six months of 2020, when compared to the\nsame period in 2019, saw a decline of 37.1%, with 188 units; and piston\nhelicopter deliveries saw a decline of 45.2%, with 63 units.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
First Half Aircraft Shipments and Billings<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n\n Aircraft Type <\/strong>\n <\/td> \n 2019<\/strong>\n <\/td> \n 2020<\/strong>\n <\/td> \n Change<\/strong>\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Piston Airplanes\n <\/td> \n 573\n <\/td> \n 497\n <\/td> \n -13.3%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Turboprops\n <\/td> \n 231\n <\/td> \n 152\n <\/td> \n -34.2%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Business Jets\n <\/td> \n 333\n <\/td> \n 244\n <\/td> \n -26.7%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Total Airplanes\n <\/td> \n 1,137\n <\/td> \n 893\n <\/td> \n -21.5%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Total Airplane\n Billing\n <\/td> \n $9.9B\n <\/td> \n $7.9B\n <\/td> \n -20.2%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Piston Helicopters\n <\/td> \n 115\n <\/td> \n 63\n <\/td> \n -45.2%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Turbine Helicopters\n <\/td> \n 299\n <\/td> \n 188\n <\/td> \n -37.1%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Total Helicopters\n <\/td> \n 414\n <\/td> \n 251\n <\/td> \n -39.4%\n <\/td><\/tr> \n Total Helicopter\n Billing\n <\/td> \n $1.5B\n <\/td> \n $0.97B\n <\/td> \n -35.5%\n <\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table>\n\n\n\n