I don’t know about you, but I’m so glad to say good riddance to 2020. But, while it was certainly the year to forget, there were a few silver linings to the year the Earth stood still. And not just for the toilet paper manufacturers.
The one positive that’s nearest and dearest to my heart is the considerable uptick in piston engine GA aircraft sales and deliveries. According to the General Aviation Manufacturer’s Association’s (GAMA) third-quarter 2020 statistics, 392 single- and twin-engine piston aircraft delivered during that time. That’s up over 100 aircraft compared to the second quarter!
If you figure-in turboprops and jets, the total is an impressive 628 new aircraft added to the GA fleet. Considering all of the curveballs that 2020 has thrown at us, these numbers are very impressive.
And, as good as it is, I think it’s only going to get better. Why do I say that? Well, business owners and entrepreneurs need to get out and do business. Americans don’t just sit idly by and wait for the opportunity to knock. We go out and grab it. Sorry, technology, you can’t grab many opportunities on a ‘Zoom’ call.
Heck, business flying is the reason that most people buy airplanes. Yes, there are tax advantages, but we’re not going there in this blog. Owning and operating private airplanes gives you the ability to do what your competition can’t. Look at what Sam Walton accomplished with a two-seat Ercoupe 415c.
With a private airplane, you can get there from here.
With airlines scaling way back, private aviation is the only reliable form of transportation available for the foreseeable future. According to FlightAware, business aviation traffic in the U.S. was down less than one percent (0.83%) through November compared to 2019. That’s a true testament to the value businesses of all types and sizes put on their aircraft.
So, what does this have to do with avionics? Plenty. Here at Gulf Coast Avionics, we’ve seen a renewed interest in owners wanting to upgrade their aircraft’s avionics suite. And I believe the reason is they’re going to be doing a lot more flying. They’re going to use their “business airplane” for active business growth.
And, we’re not just seeing larger cabin piston and turboprop aircraft getting upgrades; it’s across the board. One example was a full Garmin touchscreen glass upgrade for a Cessna 207. The airplane is based in the Bahamas and operated by an island flight-seeing operation. That’s about as business as business flying can get.
So, Matt, you ask, what kinds of avionics upgrades are people doing? That’s a great question, and since the answer is pretty long, I’m saving that for my next blog…sorry.
Until then, if you’re thinking of refreshing your airplane’s panel. My team of avionics experts and I are here to help you make an informed decision about which system is best for your type of flying. Just give me a call at 863.709.9714 (ext 112).
Until next time, fly safely and have fun,
Matt