Feb. 19, 2025
Pete Bunce capped his 20 years leading the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) by announcing a pair of industry delivery and billing milestones during his final State of the Industry conference, held Feb. 19 in Washington, DC.
Total aircraft billings in 2024 rose 14.3% over the previous year, to $26.7 billion, with rotorcraft billings rising slightly to $4.5 billion. Bunce noted that represented the, “First time in a decade our companies again exceeded $30 billion in annual billings and for the second year in a row, we shipped more than 4,000 units.”
New business jets marked the highest percentage rise over 2023 at 4.7%, with 764 aircraft delivered. Piston aircraft rose 4.2%, with 1,772 deliveries in 2024. Deliveries of both piston and turbine-powered helicopters also rose slightly year-over-year.
The only downtick came in the turboprop aircraft segment, with a 1.9% drop over 2023 delivery numbers.
GAMA also unveiled an updated study commissioned by several industry associations, including NBAA, detailing the industry’s continued, significant contributions to the U.S. economy. The study, conducted by PwC US Tax LLP, determined general aviation supports a total of 1,330,200 jobs in the U.S. and $339.2 billion in total economic output.
Learn more about the PcW study.
Bunce further noted general aviation’s significance as a “technology incubator,” from modern GPS-based avionics to electric-powered advanced air mobility vehicles. “There are great advances that we need to push. And where does it start? It starts in our sector, in business and general aviation.”
The presentation ended with Bunce, who announced his retirement last year, joining incoming GAMA President and CEO Jim Viola and GAMA Chair Henry Brooks in a panel discussion and audience Q&A. Topics including the potential for continued growth in the general aviation segment, and the industry’s relationship with the new administration on Capitol Hill.
In response to a question about the potential for a renewed battle over ATC privatization, Viola – who comes to GAMA after serving as president and CEO for Vertical Aviation International – emphasized more urgent matters to be addressed in Washington.
He added, “I think it would be a distraction if we have to do that fight again, while we can [instead] take the opportunity to [ask], ‘How can we get more efficiency out there? How do we move new technology in there? How do we get these safety enhancing technologies out there?'”
International Business Aviation Council Ltd.