GA Deliveries defy Workforce and Supply Issues

Deliveries of general aviation aircraft as released by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) yesterday show an increase of 6% in aeroplane shipments, defying persistent workforce and supply chain issues that have dogged the industry since the pandemic began.

A total of 2818 aircraft were reported to GAMA as shipped to customers in 2022, valuing the GA manufacturing industry world-wide at $US23 billion for the year. The figures for 2021 were 2630 and $US21.5 billion.

GAMA president Pete Bunce said the result was pleasing in view of the problems plaguing the GA manufacturing industry, and highlighted innovation as crucial to the sector's future.

“The general aviation manufacturing industry continues to show increasing strength and despite workforce and supply chain challenges across our industry.

"Our product development across the spectrum of fixed wing, rotorcraft and Advanced Air Mobility vehicles is spurred by the recognition that our industry is the safety and sustainability technology incubator for global civil aviation," he said.

"These safety, performance and sustainability efforts are built upon progress with lighter weight materials, new structural and wing designs, fly-by-wire control replacing heavy hydraulic systems, additive manufacturing reducing the number of parts, lighter weight and more reliable avionics, and engines and airframes that can fly on a 100% sustainable aviation fuel blend.

"Of course, the impressive list of progress doesn’t even begin to touch on the revolution of electric, hybrid and hydrogen propulsion our companies are developing."

The stand-out performer for the year, as expected, was Cirrus Aircraft. The company shipped 439 SR22s and 100 SR20s during 2022, an increase of more than 20% for each. The result was bolstered by a Q4 of 199 SR22s, itself in increase of 50% over the previous year.

Diamond's later models–the DA50 single and DA62 twin–both showed good growth for 2022, with the DA50 recording 16 aircraft for the year and the DA62 53. The big twin was up 83% over 2021, but the increase for the DA50 is harder to evaluate given that 2022 was its first full year on the market. Regardless, the single has a long way to go if it's going to match the SR22 that it preports to challenge.

Piper finished the year with alll models showing deliveries better than or equal to the 2021 figures. The M600 continued to be Vero Beach's mainstay, with 50 aircraft shipped for the year representing an 8% rise. Of the trainers, the Pilot 100 gained ground with 53 examples rolled out, eclipsing the 38 of 2021. Piper also shipped 93 Archers, which was a modest 4% above the previous year. If the numbers for both are combined, they put the 109 SR22s and 100 DA40s in the shade, but still fall short of the C172SP, even though the 151 Cessnas sent to customers was 9% below its 2021 mark.

Textron had a mixed 2022. The C172SP hung on to finish market leader in the training sector, the Caravan range was up 31% over the previous year and the C182T also returned good figures. However, the Beech Baron failed to scratch the scoresheet for the second straight year, and only a Q4 showing three deliveries rescued the Bonanza from the same fate.

Tecnam enjoyed good growth with its P2010 high-wing, but the 28% increase in shipments wasn't enough to lift it off the bottom of the four-seat single ladder. The year also saw first recorded deliveries of the P-Mentor IFR trainer. Tecnam shipped 17 of the new type, and the company will be hoping to make greater inroads to the fleet sales market in 2023.

The Tecnam P2006T held station in the twin market, recording even figures of 28 shipments for both 2021 and 2022. The sector was dominated again by Diamond, with DA62 (53) and DA42 (45) occupying first and second places over the year. The results flag a rise of the big Diamond; it's 83% growth a contrast to the 17% contraction in demand for the DA42.

The battle for the single-engine turbo-prop (SETP) market was tight. Pilatus big winner, the PC-12 led the way with 80 shipments, albeit a decrease in demand of 9% compared with 2021. As noted, the Cessna Caravan range was up 31% and Daher's TBM series recorded 56 deliveries, up 10%.

The big mover in the segment was the emerging Epic 1000GX, of which 16 were delivered to customers. That's an improvement of 78% over the six aircraft shipped in 2021. It was, however, the 1000GX's first full year on the market, but the Q4 figures reveal a 50% better result than the same period in 2022.

Cirrus' SF50 Vision is now a clear winner in the single-pilot jet sector with 90 examples delivered for the year, although some analysts place it out of the class because it is the only single. Of the twin jets, Embraer's Phenom series scooped the pool with 66 aircraft sold, exactly doubling the demand for the Cessna M2. Pilatus PC-24 was slightly down (4%) on 2021's returns, but is still holding its place. Honda's year was disappointing, with only 17 deliveries compared to the 37 of the previous twelve months. The company will be looking forward to gaining more share when the Elite II starts rolling out at the end of this year.

Major Aircraft Shipments - Calendar Year 2022

Major Aircraft Shipments - Q4 2022