The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) — which represents the world's leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes, rotorcraft and equipment — has released 2016 year-end aircraft shipment and billings numbers.

Airplane deliveries globally fell 3.9%, to 2,241 units in 2016 from the same reporting companies, whereas airplane billings declined 14.1%, to $20.7 billion. Worldwide rotorcraft shipments fell 16.9%, to 861 units in 2016, while billings declined 23% from $4.7 billion in 2015 to $3.6 billion in 2016. The rotorcraft figures do not include Leonardo Helicopters data for the fourth quarter of either year, as the company’s 2016 4Q results are not yet available.

Business jet shipments in 2016 dipped to their lowest level since 2004 at 661 units delivered, compared to 718 units in 2015. Turboprop airplane shipments (led by Daher, Pilatus and Piper) provided one of the few bright spots, increasing from 557 to 576 units for the same reporting companies, a 3.4% increase.

Piston airplane shipments declined from 1,056 to 1,004 units, a reduction of 4.9% for the same reporting companies. Turbine helicopter shipments, based on initial data, declined from 757 units to 637 units. Piston helicopter shipments declined from 279 units to 224 units.

“The 2016 year-end results were disappointing overall, although we did see some blue sky in the turboprop sector,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce said.

From 2016 onwards, GAMA figures include piston and turboprop data from China’s AVIC General Aircraft. Comparisons between 2015 and 2016 do not include AVIC General data.