2015 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2016 Industry Outlook General Aviation Manufacturers Association General aviation is defined as all aviation other than military and scheduled commercial airlines. General Aviation: U Includes over 362,000 general aviation aircraft U In the U.S., flies almost 23 million hours, of flying worldwide today, ranging from two- which two-thirds are for business purposes. seat training aircraft and utility helicopters to intercontinental business jets, of which over U Flies to more than 5,000 U.S. public 204,000 aircraft are based in the United States airports, while scheduled airlines serve less and over 110,000 aircraft are based in Europe. than 400 airports. The European general aviation fleet can access over 4,200 airports. U Supports $219 billion in total economic output and 1.1 million total jobs in the United States. U Is the primary training arena for most commercial airline pilots. GAMA is an international trade association representing more than 90 of the world’s leading manufacturers of general aviation airplanes and rotorcraft, engines, avionics, components, and related services. GAMA’s members also operate repair stations, fixed-based operations, pilot and maintenance training facilities, and manage fleets of aircraft. For more information, visit GAMA’s Web site at www.GAMA.aero and look for us on Facebook and LinkedIn. Welcome from GAMA’s Chairman ’m very pleased to present to you GAMA’s 2015 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2016 Industry Outlook. Chock full of the latest information as well as historical Istatistics, this Databook is considered the industry resource on general aviation (GA) data. The book in your hands includes the most current information on GA shipments and billings, GA fleet and flight activity, the pilot community, airports and aeronautical facilities, and GA safety information. It’s an in-depth Ài>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊL°ÊÊ ÛiLiÀÊÓä£x]Ê look that shows just how expansive the GAMA wrote to four transportation Chairman’s Objectives GA marketplace is in today’s world. leaders in the U.S. Congress outlining for 2016 our priorities to be included in the bill, In the book’s opening pages, you’ll find especially certification reform. You can In 2016, GAMA seeks to accomplish highlights of GAMA’s activities in 2015. read the letter on page 2. the following goals: It was quite a year, as the association UÊÊ*ÕÀÃÕiÊ«ÀÛiiÌÃÊ>`Êi>LiÊ reached a record number of member I also want to share with you GAMA’s other priorities for this year, which are innovation in general and business companies and created an entirely aviation to enhance safety new associate membership category listed in the box to the right. As you for companies developing hybrid and can see, we have a lot of work ahead of UÊÊ>VÌ>ÌiÊ«ÀÛiiÌÃÊÊÌ iÊ electric propulsion aircraft. In addition, us, and I look forward to our continued effectiveness and efficiency of progress on these important topics. Ê«>Þi`Ê>Êi>`ÊÀiÊÊÀ}>â}Ê global civil aviation authorities the historic Arsenal of Democracy: in conducting their certification, I hope you’ll be as proud as I am of World War II Victory Capitol Flyover in operational, and maintenance GAMA’s work as you read through this oversight responsibilities, and Washington, DC that marked 70 years book. Each day, the association works reduce regulatory burdens since Victory in Europe Day. We also relentlessly on behalf of its members, brought our successful General Aviation both large and small, to ensure global UÊÊ`ÛV>ÌiÊvÀÊ«ViÃÊ>`Ê Jobs rallies to two more states: Florida leaders, the public, and the press technologies that enhance and Delaware. And GAMA continued understand the importance and value of general and business aviation to work effectively with policymakers growth, access, and environmental our industry. That’s why I’m honored to and regulators around the globe, sustainability be a GAMA member and its Chairman in with impressive results, including 2016. Here’s to another great year. UÊÊ*ÀÌiÊ}Ài>ÌiÀÊ>Ü>ÀiiÃÃÊvÊ Ài>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊvÊÌ iÊ1°-°Ê Ý«ÀÌ the economic impact and societal Import Bank, permanency of the U.S. Best Regards, benefits of general and business Research & Development tax credit, aviation globally ÕÌÞi>ÀÊ>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊvÀÊ1°-°ÊºLÕÃÊ depreciation,” revision of basic GA UÊÊÃÌiÀÊ}iiÀ>Ê>`ÊLÕÃiÃÃÊ regulations in Europe by the European Aaron Hilkemann aviation renewal through programs Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), and GAMA Chairman and and policies that help ensure a EASA’s publication of a single-engine President and CEO, Duncan Aviation robust fleet, pilot, engineering, commercial operating rule. and skilled trades population One of GAMA’s biggest priorities in 2016 UÊÊ-Õ««ÀÌÊÀ}>â>Ì>ÊiÝViiViÊ at GAMA is shaping the passage of a multi-year U.S. Federal Aviation Administration 2015 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2016 Industry Outlook 2015 General Aviation 1 2015 in Review In November, GAMA sent a letter to four and business aviation would have transportation leaders in the U.S. Congress an unquestionably negative impact, about the upcoming U.S. Federal Aviation and safeguards must be in place Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill. to preserve Congressional decision The text of the letter follows. authority in future revenue decisions. UÊÊU ÞÊV >}iÃÊÕÃÌÊ«ÀÛiÊÌ iÊ Dear Chairman Shuster, Chairman efficiency and safety of air travel Thune, Ranking Member DeFazio but also sustain the broader public and Ranking Member Nelson: benefits of aviation, including providing airport access and air traffic service On behalf of the General Aviation for rural and underserved areas and Manufacturers Association (GAMA), I am guaranteeing all users are treated writing today to urge you to introduce equitably in terms of access to airspace. i}Ã>ÌÊvÀÊÌ iÊÀi>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊvÊ Additionally, if a Board is considered, it the FAA in the near term. With the must be composed of individuals who VÕÀÀiÌÊ>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊ >Û}ÊiÝ«Ài`ÊÊ will keep the public interest principles September 30, 2015, there has already of safety, access and rural and small been one extension of FAA programs. community service inviolable while Every day that passes makes it more possessing the expertise to help FAA likely that we will have another, bringing create jobs and bring continued safety advance its operational mission, rather greater uncertainty to the marketplace improvements. GAMA believes that than simply be a collection of aviation and loss of momentum in addressing these reforms could be passed quickly interests. policy areas like certification reform and with bipartisan support. and inconsistent interpretation of FAA UÊÊ7Ì ÊÃÃÕiÃÊiÊÌ iÊÃ>viÊ>`ÊÌiÞÊ regulations. Ê>ÃÊÀiV}âiÃÊÌ >ÌÊV >}iÊ integration of Unmanned Aerial needs to be discussed more broadly, Systems (UAS) and commercial space For GAMA, certification reform and especially in ensuring financial stability ÌÀ>ëÀÌ>ÌÊÌÊÌ iÊ >Ì>Ê regulatory improvements are key and flexibility at the entire agency. As all Airspace System needing to be components of any legislative effort. of us go into this discussion, we need to addressed, great scrutiny must be ÞÊÀi>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊLÊÕÃÌÊ«Õà ÊÌ iÊ be certain that as we try to solve specific given to any proposal that fragments ÊÌÊÀiÊvÕÞÊÕÌâiÊ"À}>â>Ì>Ê problems, we do not create others. the key operational and safety iÃ}>ÌÊÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊ­" ®]Ê FAA’s air traffic system is the largest and oversight elements of FAA. which will help the agency manage most complex in the world; it is also the scarce safety resources more effectively safest and one of the most efficient. To a Because the issues involved in FAA and end unnecessary delays in the degree not found in other countries, the Ài>ÕÌ Àâ>ÌÊÀiµÕÀiÊÌ Õ} ÌvÕÊ certification and regulatory process; economic health and vitality of numerous review, GAMA hopes you will introduce invest in training programs that help businesses and communities, small and legislation in the near term and FAA employees succeed in their large, depend on the nation’s aviation allow constructive and collaborative safety oversight responsibilities; and system. Any change must not weaken discussions to begin on the way ahead. measure the performance of both the this strong foundation, which has made We look forward to working with you and FAA and industry in their respective the U.S. aviation system the envy of the all members of Congress in addressing certification responsibilities. Additionally, world. these issues, and ensuring that we GAMA believes the bill must focus on advance certification reform, aviation FAA’s international engagement and Ê>>Þâ}Ê>`ÊiÛ>Õ>Ì}ÊV >}iÃÊÌÊ manufacturing, and the nation’s aviation leadership, which will help improve the FAA and the overall management of system as a whole. Thank you for your aviation safety and facilitate the flow of the aviation system, GAMA believes the consideration. products globally. following considerations should be a key Sincerely, basis for moving forward: GAMA and our member companies have worked with both the U.S. House UÊÊÞÊV >}iÊÕÃÌÊ i«ÊÃiVÕÀiÊÌ iÊ and U.S. Senate Committees for many future growth and health of the general years to achieve these objectives. With aviation industry given the significant your leadership, the U.S. Congress has number of good jobs it creates. Peter J. Bunce undertaken significant efforts to improve Changing the funding mechanism to President and CEO 2015 General Aviation Statistical Databook & 2016 Industry Outlook 2015 General Aviation certification. Certification reform will help user fees from the fuel tax for general 2 2015 in Review Events Across U.S. Mark GA Week Governors and U.S. members of Congress got a chance to see general aviation firsthand during the second annual General Aviation Maintenance and Manufacturing Week. Manufacturers with facilities at Dallas Love Field in Texas hosted U.S.