Thriving Market And Innovation Drive Business Aviation

From corporate titans globe-trotting the new Dassault 6X (pictured), to Angel Flight volunteers lifting ill patients to lifesaving care in single-engine Piper turboprops, to Pilots N Paws volunteers liberating puppies from kill shelters to forever homes in Cessna 182Ts, people count on business aircraft every day to get the job done, safely and efficiently—and on their own timetable.

That’s why we’re seeing a thriving market sector despite issues with supply chains and workforce shortages, along with pressure from environmental groups. As part of its annual State of the Industry report published on Feb. 21, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) reported that all segments of general aviation saw an increase in shipments compared with 2022. For the first time in more than a decade, the industry delivered more than 4,000 aircraft. “This is testament to the resilience of our industry and the integral role that general and business aviation plays in our communities,” says Pete Bunce, GAMA president and CEO.

Specifically, manufacturers delivered 1,682 piston-powered aircraft (an increase of nearly 12% from 2022), 638 turboprops (+10%) and 730 business jets (+2.5%). Along with more aircraft, industry also innovated with new designs and avionics. Just one example: Cirrus introduced the Auto Radar for the Vision Jet, which computes a composite real-time depiction of the weather ahead for the pilot. All he or she has to do is select the desired look-ahead range. “As civil aviation’s innovation incubator, our entire GA industry is focused on new aircraft and technologies that will lead the way in safety and sustainability for the entire aviation sector,” Bunce says.

BCA appreciates the business of business aviation and we respect the value of your time. That’s why we publish this annual Purchase Planning Handbook (PPH), a comprehensive compilation of key performance parameters for aircraft ranging from single-engine Cessnas and Cirruses to ultra-long-range megamachines built by Airbus, Boeing, Bombardier, Dassault and Gulfstream, and everything in between. We save you time because all the information you need is right there.

The handbook has been a hallmark of BCA for more than three decades. Created by Fred George, our former chief pilot and aircraft evaluator, who also happens to be a 2024 Living Legends of Aviation inductee (see pg. 6), the PPH is the one-stop, go-to resource for engineering-caliber data about the business aircraft we fly.

Every year we ask the manufacturers of these machines to refresh and update their data in a standard format (we provide a 6-page How To manual explaining the data, along with a BCA Required Equipment List that you see here). When everyone plays by the same rules, we level the playing field so you the buyer, owner, flight department and chief pilot, can get a clear picture of the engineering trade-offs that come with every aircraft design choice. We go above and beyond the spec sheets that you find online to give you a comprehensive picture of the performance you can expect for the kinds of missions you will take.

How do we know your missions? Because Fred George lived and breathed business aviation throughout those 30+ years of developing and producing the PPH, and most of you reading this have probably talked to Fred more than once over the years. You knew exactly what Fred was going to do when he arrived—tape measure in hand—on the static display at NBAA—check your numbers.

That’s the kind of dedication that makes the PPH a superior product. Although Fred retired from BCA in 2020, we are continuing his creation and are looking to make it even better in the future. We’d very much like your help. Do you have ideas for how the PPH can be more valuable or user friendly for you and your operation? Let us know. Send an email at [email protected].

Here’s to a great business aviation year. We trust the 2024 Purchase Planning Handbook will help you make it so.