The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) has published aircraft delivery data for the first quarter of 2016. Results were soft across the board, with few bright spots.

Airplane shipments were down 3.7%, at 422 aircraft, while billings dropped 9.5% to just under $4bn. Piston aircraft shipments were stable at 191 aircraft (–1.0%), while turboprops dipped 6.8%, to 109 aircraft. Bizjet deliveries fell 4.7%, to 122 aircraft. The latter figure does not include data from Dassault Aviation, which reports deliveries twice a year in accordance with company financial reporting procedures.

Rotorcraft shipments slumped 18.9%, to a total of 163. Piston deliveries were unchanged, at 60, but the number of turbine helicopters delivered in the period fell 27.0%, resulting in a 30.4% decline in billings ($0.6bn).

“The entire industry is feeling the impact of retrenchment in the energy sector as well as global geopolitical and economic insecurity,” GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce commented. “Despite these headwinds, our industry continues to invest in research, development, and certification of more efficient and safe products. Therefore, actions taken by elected officials to stimulate R&D and improve regulator efficiency have a far-reaching impact on the economy."