Business Jets Take General Aviation To Record Billing Height

ByJohn S. McClenahen Total billings for the U.S. general aviation industry, driven by record shipments of business jets in the U.S. and abroad, reached a record high of $4.4 billion during the first half of this year, reports the Washington-based General Aviation Manufacturers Assn. The figure was 2.8% better than the $4.3 billion in billings recorded in the first six months of 2000. Some 303 business jets were shipped between January and June this year, 5.2% more than during the first half of 2000. Turboprop shipments matched last year's first-half figure of 165. However, shipments of piston-driven aircraft fell 5.6% to 816 units, resulting in a 2.5% decline to 1,284 in the total number of general aviation airplanes shipped during the first six months of 2001.