According to the PricewaterhouseCoopers, report on GA economic impact, “At the national level, each direct job in general aviation supported 3.3 jobs elsewhere in the economy.” Nationwide 273,500 full and part-time workers were directly employed in general aviation in 2018. In total, GA’s direct employment supported 1.2 million jobs and $247 billion in economic output. About a 3.3 to 1 ratio.
Economic activities by pilots also have direct, indirect, induced and enabled impacts among related businesses in the economy. It’s an hypothesis that the related business to pilot ratio is similar to that found in the PWC report (3.3 to 1). Therefore, the number of related businesses to pilots would be greater than 1 to 1. There are 633,000 pilots registered with the FAA.
Reference: PricewaterhouseCoopers, “Contribution of General Aviation to the U.S. Economy in 2018,” GAMA’s State of the Industry Press Conference, February 19, 2020.
The desire for turbocharged power has carried Cirrus Aircraft over another milestone – Cirrus has more turbo deliveries than all other aircraft manufacturers combined (since 2007). In 2019, Cirrus sold 200 SR22T Turbo planes and surpassed 2,134 turbo deliveries.
Currently, there are only four companies manufacturing competing piston single-engine turbos. The Cirrus SR22T Turbo outsells the Piper M350 about 10:1, Cessna Turbo Stationair ~5:1, Mooney Acclaim ~29:1.
Cirrus SR22T Turbo climbs like a beast and is designed to run cooler than predecessor turbos. It’s the best selling turbo piston airplane by more than a mile.
The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) published aircraft manufacturer shipments for 2019. After the report, Jim Moore, AOPA Editor-Web said, “Cirrus continues to lead the single-engine piston market by a wide margin, with sales of the SR22T alone climbing to 200 units in 2019, up from 180 delivered in in 2018. [But] Cirrus saw its older piston models slip in sales . . . (1)” I’m not sure Jim has seen the 6th Generation Cirrus SR20. It’s cutting edge, not an older piston model.
Right now, the big General Aviation story is training aircraft shipments. But Cirrus doesn’t focus on that market. For decades, Cirrus has pursued a new market – piston personal transportation that delivers high performance, safety and luxury. When specific customers are narrowly targeted business writers recognize it as market re-segmentation.
Cirrus SR Series shipments last year were 384 v. 380 in 2018, which scores another record for Cirrus Aircraft since the 2008 Great Recession (see Table 1). A quick glance into the stats does show fewer SR20’s delivered last year 53 v. 65 in the prior period. But here’s the rest of the story.
Cirrus reps have said, the company “suppresses” SR20 sales because that model has a lower margin than the SR22 Series. If accurate, the manufacturing tactic is reflected in the stats. Shipments for their highest margin product, the SR22T Turbo were up 11% over the prior year. Normally aspirated SR22 production runs have averaged 132 units annually for the past half-decade. Like other manufacturers, it appears Cirrus adjusts model production runs for optimal profitability. For years, steady customer demand has maintained more than a 6-month delivery wait on 6th Generation SR Series airplanes.
For those new to the Cirrus brand here’s a recap: “In 2000, Cirrus received Type Certificate for a composite piston aircraft, with a larger wing and larger fuel capacity and more powerful engine – the SR22. Just three years later, the SR22 became the world’s best-selling general aviation airplane . . . and has continued to hold that distinction every year since [17 years. But] holding the title of the best-selling general aviation aircraft every year has not stopped Cirrus from pursuing continuous innovation on the SR Series aircraft (2).”
For those watching, Cirrus is relentlessly pursuing a new market for single-engine turbofan personal transportation, which they coined “The Personal Jet.” Cirrus is holding deposits from more than 500 pilots who want to take delivery; however, a ramp-up in production of the Cirrus SF50 Personal Jet has not yet begun. This new market appears opaque to aviation journalists. Many perceive incorrectly that Cirrus has entered the Very Light Jet market (VLJ).
Cirrus has over 7,800 aircraft operating in more than 60 countries. Congratulations to the entire Cirrus Aircraft team.
Table 1. Historic Cirrus Aircraft Shipments
Year
SF50 Jet
SR22 Turbo
SR22
SR20
SRV
Total
2019
81
200
131
53
–
465
2018
63
180
135
65
–
443
2017
22
174
135
46
–
377
2016
3
149
133
35
–
320
2015
–
142
128
31
–
301
2014
–
160
117
31
–
308
2013
–
132
112
32
–
276
2012
–
88
81
84
–
253
2011
–
102
105
48
–
255
2010
–
107
115
42
–
264
2009
–
150
88
28
–
266
2008
–
250
177
115
7
549
2007
–
300
288
112
10
710
2006
–
30*
535
150
6
721
2005
–
–
475
116
9
600
2004
–
–
459
91
3
553
2003
–
–
355
112
2
469
2002
–
–
292
105
–
397
2001
–
–
124
59
–
183
2000
–
–
–
95
–
95
1999
–
–
–
9
–
9
Total
169
2,164
3,985
1,459
37
7,814
Note: Cirrus factory installed STC Tornado Alley Turbonormalized (TAT) shipments are not listed in GAMA statistics. From 2006 – 2010, the FAA Registration for Cirrus planes with TAT systems is “SR22.” See reference info. (3) below.
Jim Moore, “Piston Trainer Surge Lifted GA Market. GAMA: 2019 BizJet Deliveries Also at 10-Year High,” AOPA News & Videos, February 19, 2020
Cirrus marketing website, About the Company, “History of Cirrus Aircraft,” www.CirrusAircraft.com, 2020
* Jeffrey S. Brewer, “Cirrus has the best-selling Turbocharged Airplane,” statistics by year for factory installed Tornado Alley Turbo Normalized STC Shipments, phone interview Matt Bergwall, Cirrus Product Marketing Manager, www.wikiWings.com, circa April, 2014
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In 2019, Cirrus will surpass two-thousand (2,000) turbocharged airplane deliveries. Pilots’ desire for turbocharged power has carried the company past another milestone – Cirrus has more turbo deliveries than all other turbo single-engine manufactured planes combined since 2007.
In 2018, Cirrus sold 180 turbo SR22T planes. Almost half of their piston engine deliveries are turbo. In just twelve years, customers have purchased more than 1,964 turbocharged planes from Cirrus. It’s the best selling turbo piston airplane.
Continuous improvements to the plane’s design have won customers over. Along with Cirrus, there are now only three other companies manufacturing traditional “four-adult” piston turbo single-engine planes. Currently, the Cirrus SR22T Turbo outsells the Piper Malibu Mirage 9:1 and the Cessna Turbo Stationair 6:1.
The Cirrus “SR-series of high-performance piston airplanes are the best-selling aircraft in the world for [16] consecutive years – with over 7,260 aircraft operating in over 60 countries.”
Congratulations to the entire Cirrus Aircraft team.
Reference: GAMA.aero Annual Reports for piston-single engine shipments; and earlier turbo normalized (TAT) stats from Matt Bergwall, Cirrus Aircraft.
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In 2018, Cirrus Aircraft sold 380 piston-engine planes. That’s up 7% over last year. The annual GAMA report shows Cirrus won half of the traditional “four-seat” (4-adult) airplane sales. Cirrus by design, has successfully resegmented the piston-engine market and separated their airplanes from the competition.
The Cirrus SR22 outsells Beachcraft Bonanza 21:1. The Cirrus SR series wins 3:1 over Piper Archer and Arrow sales, and 2:1 over Cessna Skyhawk and Skylane sales.
The Cirrus “SR-series of high-performance piston airplanes are the best-selling aircraft in the world for [16] consecutive years – with over 7,260 aircraft operating in over 60 countries.”
Congratulations to the entire Cirrus Aircraft team.
Copyright 2019 wikiWings LLC, All rights reserved Connecting Aviators® and related marks and logos are property of wikiWings®
Back in 1999, the General Aviation piston-engine market was ready for innovation. And, the Klapmeier brothers barnstormed the industry with it to become the dominate leaders. Cirrus by design, has segmented a high-end niche market away from its competitors. The 2018 GAMA report makes it clear to see if you categorize piston-engine shipments.
In business parlance it’s called market segmentation. All piston sales are not the same. Piper sales do not compete with Light Sport Aircraft (LSA). Cessna sales don’t compete with taildragger shipments. These are very different customer markets within piston-engine airplane sales. And, a feature doesn’t create market segmentation. Segmentation is not achieved with a claim to “the fastest piston engine plane.”
The 2018 GAMA report shows Cirrus Aircraft won half of the traditional “four-seat” airplane sales. Cirrus has successfully separated their airplanes from the competition.
2018 Piston Single-Engine Shipments
Description
2018
%
Cirrus SR22 & SR20
380
49%
Piper Archer & Arrrow
114
15%
Piper Malibu Mirage
20
3%
Cessna Skyhawk & Skylane
160
21%
Cessna Turbo Stationair
32
4%
Diamond DA40
45
6%
Beachcraft A/G36
15
2%
Mooney Ovation & Acclaim
14
2%
Sub Total
780
100%
Taildraggers
38
–
LSA
103
–
Other
33
–
Total Single-Engine Piston Shipments
954
–
Cirrus has defined new airspace for single-engine competition. Again, this year, hundreds of people are willing to stand in line for a new Cirrus piston-engine airplane and pay $1.0 million dollars each. Why? Has the pursuit of relentless innovation delivered that much product differentiation for Cirrus customers?
In many ways, the piston-engine market is still ready for innovation. Archaic components remain and need to be upgraded. The market could very well be successfully segmented again or new markets might emerge – how about Vertical Takeoff and Landing (VTOL) aircraft. Who will be the next visionary to step forward?
Copyright 2019 wikiWings LLC, All rights reserved Connecting Aviators® and related marks and logos are property of wikiWings®
GAMA Chairman and Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. President Mark Burns and GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce will present the GAMA 2019 State of the Industry press conference on Wednesday February 20, 2019. They will also unveil the 2018 year-end aircraft shipment and billings numbers and discuss industry priorities for the year ahead.
We’ll summarize the general aviation shipments for piston engine planes, single prop turbines and light jets in future posts.
What is the market share among classic four-seat piston single-engine airplanes, with less than 200 hp? Last year, 831 piston single-engine planes shipped and of that total 264 or 32% were classic 4-seat planes with less than 200 hp. Continue reading “Classic Four-Seat Piston Single-Engine Market Share 2013”→
How many airplanes has Cirrus Aircraft manufactured? Cirrus Aircraft has shipped a total of 5,600 airplanes. In 2013, Cirrus shipped 276 airplanes which was a 9.1% increase over the prior year. Yet deliveries are still running half pre-recession levels. Continue reading “Cirrus Aircraft Shipments 2013”→
