GAMA’s second-quarter 2026 shipment and billing report showed mixed conditions across general aviation in the first half of the year, with business jets and turboprops outperforming piston aircraft. Total airplane shipments rose 1.7% to 1,458 units through June, while billings increased 15.5% to $14.3 billion, reflecting a stronger mix of higher-value aircraft.
Business jet deliveries climbed 8.2% to 383 units, and turboprop shipments advanced 7.8% to 289. Piston aircraft fell 3.1% to 786 units, underscoring continued weakness in the lowest-priced segment. The split left manufacturers with more value per aircraft delivered, helping lift billings faster than unit volumes. Helicopter shipments also improved, with piston and turbine models both rising in the first half, though the report’s main signal remained the resilience of the jet and turboprop market relative to pistons.