Friday, August 10, 2012

A general aviation industry group says airplane shipments and billings rose in the first half of 2012 amid signs of stability and growth.

The new report from the General Aviation Manufacturers Association shows airplane shipments up 5.9 percent, with 918 planes delivered in the first half the year. The value of those deliveries rose 13.2 percent, to $8.2 billion.

GAMA president Pete Bunce says those figures, combined with positive trends in the used airplane market, may signal the start of the industry's recovery. But he says more work must be done to improve the efficiency of the FAA certification process.