General aviation manufacturers recorded a mixed start to 2026, with aircraft delivery volumes and billings showing both gains and declines across segments, according to the latest first-quarter shipment and billing report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA).
GAMA reported a total of 877 civil aircraft shipments worldwide in the first quarter, with total aircraft billings reaching about $6.85 billion. Airplane shipments accounted for 667 units and approximately $6.07 billion in billings, while helicopter shipments totaled 168 units with a value of about $788.5 million.
By category, piston airplanes remained the largest segment by volume, with 381 deliveries, including 345 single-engine piston and electric aircraft and 36 multiengine piston models. Turboprop manufacturers recorded 124 airplane shipments, and business jet deliveries reached 162 units, reflecting continued demand at the upper end of the market.
Regionally, U.S. manufacturers dominated fixed-wing production in the quarter, delivering 506 airplanes, while European manufacturers reported 123 airplane shipments. GAMA noted that its overall aircraft total also includes certain light-sport and other small aircraft that do not appear in the headline summary tables.
On the rotary-wing side, helicopter deliveries showed signs of softening compared with the same period a year earlier. Piston helicopter shipments fell by seven units to 47, and turbine helicopter deliveries declined by 9 percent to 121 aircraft. The value of civil-commercial helicopter deliveries for the quarter was reported at $789 million.