The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) released its first quarter 2026 aircraft shipment and billing report on 29 May 2026, highlighting a diverging trend between fixed-wing aircraft and helicopters.
Business jet deliveries rose by about 15% year-on-year in the first quarter, reaching approximately 162 aircraft. High-end, pressurized turboprops also recorded growth and contributed to the overall increase in airplane deliveries. In value terms, billings for airplanes climbed by around 1 billion dollars compared with the first quarter of 2025, to about 6.1 billion dollars, an increase of 19.1%.
On the rotorcraft side, deliveries weakened. Piston helicopter shipments fell in unit terms to 47 aircraft, a decrease of seven units versus the same period a year earlier. Turbine helicopter deliveries declined by around 9% year-on-year to about 121 units in the first quarter of 2026. The value of civil and commercial helicopter deliveries reached approximately 789 million dollars.
GAMA underlined the increase in piston airplane and business jet deliveries and the 19.1% rise in airplane billings compared with the first quarter of 2025. Industry commentary on the data noted that business jets and high-end turboprops “climbed” while helicopters “slowed”, illustrating the contrasting performance across segments.
The quarterly figures extend a broader recovery in demand for business aircraft observed since 2023–2025 and point to a product mix shift toward higher-value jets and turboprops, while the softer helicopter volumes indicate a different demand profile in the rotorcraft market.