General Aviation Shipments, Billings Rise in First Half of 2026

General aviation airplane and helicopter shipments rose in the first half of 2026 compared with a year earlier, according to the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. Manufacturers delivered 1,458 airplanes from January through June, up from 1,433 in the same period of 2025. That total included 786 piston aircraft, 289 turboprops, and 383 business jets. Airplane billings reached about $14.3 billion, a 15.5 percent increase from $12.4 billion a year earlier.

Helicopter shipments totaled 419 units: 110 piston models and 309 turbine rotorcraft. That compares with 403 in the first half of 2025. Helicopter billings rose 7.2 percent to about $2.2 billion from roughly $2 billion.

Business jets posted the largest shipment increase among aircraft categories at 8.2 percent. Turboprops rose 7.8 percent and piston helicopters 5.8 percent. Piston airplanes were the only segment to decline, falling 3.1 percent.

Cirrus led airplane deliveries with 405 units, including 196 turbocharged SR22s. Textron Aviation followed with 333 shipments, and Piper with 115. Airbus Helicopters shipped 142 rotorcraft, while Robinson Helicopter delivered 127.