Worldwide general-aviation aircraft deliveries recovered slightly in the first quarter, boosted by a US tax break on aircraft delivered by the end of this year. Business jet deliveries rose almost 14% year-on-year, to 115 aircraft, well below the first-quarter 2001 level of 196 jets, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
Turboprop deliveries were essentially flat, at 32 aircraft - again well below the first-quarter 2001 total of 90 units - but shipments of piston-powered aircraft rose by just over 9% to 394, above the first-quarter 2001 total of 356 units. GAMA is lobbying to have the bonus-depreciation tax break extended into 2005.
The value of first-quarter shipments was up by just over 21% from a year earlier, to $2.38 billion, on the higher business jet deliveries. Bombardier showed the greatest improvement, delivering 35 business jets, 21 more than in the first quarter last year.
Deliveries also increased year-over-year at AvCraft, Boeing Business Jets, Dassault and Gulfstream, but Cessna shipped 18 fewer Citations, while Embraer and Raytheon each delivered one fewer jet. Cessna delivered 10 fewer Caravans.
Piston shipments continue to be boosted by the ramp-up of new market entrants. Cirrus delivered 105 aircraft, up from 90 a year earlier, while Diamond pushed shipments up by over 20% to 57 units.
Source: Flight International