Worldwide deliveries of turbine business airplanes in the first quarter plunged more than 24 percent, to 201 units, compared with the 266 units shipped in the first quarter last year, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association, which now reports deliveries of non-U.S. as well as U.S. manufacturers.
All 34 turboprop and jet models from 13 manufacturers tracked by GAMA tallied fewer deliveries in the last quarter, versus the same period a year ago, except for the Challenger 604, Citation Encore, Citation X, Gulfstream 100, Piaggio Avanti and TBM 700. Recip deliveries dropped 15 percent. “We expected a drop in shipments and billings,” said GAMA president Ed Bolen. “Last year, in response to the slowing economy and the terrorist attacks, nearly all of the manufacturers announced reductions in their 2002 production schedules. That is now being reflected in the first-quarter numbers. Our hope is that the strengthening economy will improve things as the year progresses.”
