The Usual Plus Embraer

The impudent newcomer has managed to elbow his way among veteran manufacturers, but there’s barely room for anyone else.

2010 got its figures – who sold what and for how much. Just a couple years ago there was 5+1 manufacturers on the market – now it’s the big six. The Brazilian Embraer used to hold a modest share and got included in the list out of respect for its ambition. Now it’s playing even with the majors and the bizjet manufacturers top looks like this (by billings):

1. Bombardier Aerospace ($4.9 billion)
2. Gulfstream Aerospace ($4 billion)
3. Dassault Aviation ($3.9 billion)
4. Hawker Beechcraft ($1.6 billion)
5. Cessna Aircraft ($1.5 billion)
6. Embraer ($1.25 billion)

There are of course other players on the market –manufacturing giants Boeing and Airbus also sell business aircraft based on airliners. However, their market is limited and total deliveries for the two seldom exceed twenty per year, although at a high price, and they are traditionally viewed separately.

Aviation doesn’t like newcomers. The success of Embraer is something we’ll talk about another time, while here’s an example the above: Emivest Aerospace has gone bankrupt once again, after yet another attempt to see the light SJ30 to market. This doesn’t stop the wannabees though.

Experienced turboprop makers, such as DAHER Socata and Piaggio Aero, are still scheming to tackle the jet market. Honda Aircraft is pushing on with certification of its baby HondaJet. And they all have real chances. I’m more skeptical about the “very light” machines, such as the PiperJet, Cirrus Vision and Diamond Jet. And even if any of them manages to pull up into the market, they’ll still be as far from the big six as Kansas is from Mongolia. You can’t beat the majors with one model. This means the top six won’t change for long.

And a little something to muse over:

2010 Results: Manufacture

Piston aircraft: 889, down by 7.7%
Turboprops: 363, down by 17.7% 
Business jets: 763*, down by 12.3% 
Total GA civil shipments: 2 015, down by 11.4% 
Total GA aircraft billings: $19.7 billion, up by 1.2%

*1315 business jets were delivered in 2008

Data source: GAMA
Photo credits: Embraer