Aircraft deliveries by US general aviation manufacturers continued their upward rise in the first quarter, increasing by more than 22% over the same period last year.
According to figures from the US General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA), 613 aircraft valued at $2.1 billion were shipped in the period.
Turboprop deliveries rebounded strongly, by more than 44%, but largely because changes in billing rules pushed several aircraft shipments into the first quarter from the fourth quarter of last year.
Deliveries of piston-powered aircraft continued their recovery, with shipments rising almost 21% to 399 units, largely because of higher production at New Piper Aircraft and the entry into the market of Cirrus Design.
Jet aircraft shipments rose by over 15% to 136 units, largely due to the ramp-up in deliveries of the Bombardier Learjet 45 and Cessna Citation Excel "super-light" business jets - to 20 and 16 aircraft in the first quarter, respectively.
Raytheon Aircraft reported the biggest year-on-year increase in shipments - to 130 units from 93 a year earlier - boosted by deliveries held over from the fourth quarter of last year.
The company's billings of over $502 million were second only to Gulfstream's $639 million.
Source: Flight International