AEA unveils first-quarter 2019 Avionics Market Report

Total sales exceed $724 million in first three months of 2019

LEE'S SUMMIT, MISSOURI, May 9, 2019 -- The Aircraft Electronics Association released its first-quarter 2019 Avionics Market Report.

In the first three months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to $724,168,387.64 or more than $724 million as reported by the participating companies.

First three months of 2019 worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales

Quarter
Retrofit
Forward-fit
Total Sales
1Q 2019 $388,085,532.10 $336,082,855.54 $724,168,387.64

The figure represented a 13.2% increase in total sales compared to the first-quarter 2018 amount of $639,796,979, or more than $639 million.

First three months of worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales

 
2018
2019
% Change
Retrofit
$363,700,344.00
$388,085,532.10
6.7%
Forward-fit
$276,096,635.00
$336,082,855.54
21.7%
YTD
$639,796,979.00
$724,168,387.64
13.2%

The dollar amount reported (using net sales price, not manufacturer's suggested retail price) includes: all business and general aviation aircraft electronic sales -- including all component and accessories in cockpit/cabin/software upgrades/portables/certified and noncertified aircraft electronics; all hardware (tip to tail); batteries; and chargeable product upgrades from the participating manufacturers. The amount does not include repairs and overhauls, extended warranty or subscription services.

Of the more than $724 million in first-quarter 2019 sales, 53.6% came from the retrofit market (avionics equipment installed after original production), while forward-fit sales (avionics equipment installed by airframe manufacturers during original production) amounted to 46.4% of first-quarter sales.

According to the companies that separated their total sales figures between North America (U.S. and Canada) and other international markets, 76.1% of the first-quarter sales volume occurred in North America (U.S. and Canada), while 23.9% took place in other international markets.

2019 Percentage of Total Sales by Market

Quarter Retrofit Forward-fit
1Q 2019 53.6% 46.4%

2019 Percentage of Total Sales Worldwide

Quarter U.S./Canada Other International
1Q 2019 76.1% 23.9%

All dollar amounts noted are U.S. dollars. The number of companies that participate in the AEA Avionics Market Report may change on a quarterly and/or annual basis. This may occur due to mergers and acquisitions during the year along with new companies participating in the reporting process. Any comparative analysis of the data should take this variance into consideration.

The AEA Avionics Market Report should not be considered a predictive indicator of future industry sales activity. The circumstances discussed in the report may not occur in future time periods, and actual results could differ materially as a result of known and unknown risk factors and uncertainties affecting the AEA Avionics Market Report and the companies that participate in the report. No forward-looking statement can be guaranteed. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date on which they are made, and the Aircraft Electronics Association, along with the participating companies in the AEA Avionics Market Report, undertake no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.

"While it is likely that ADS-B installations in the United States are a contributing factor to the increase in year-over-year sales as we get closer to the FAA's equipage deadline, those are fairly straight-forward installations," said AEA President and CEO Mike Adamson. "Our member repair stations report that they are also doing an increasing number of full-panel retrofits. Installations of new electronic flight displays, digital autopilots, engine monitor systems, in-flight connectivity and other technologies are keeping the shops extremely busy, and the ongoing work has helped drive an increase in year-over-year sales for nine-straight quarters."

Below is a review of the year-end totals for the six-year history of the AEA Avionics Market Report. Participating companies began separating total sales into retrofit/forward-fit sales in 2013.

Yearly Totals

Year Retrofit Forward-fit Total Sales % Change From
Previous Year
2018 $1,556,360,964.00 $1,172,296,145.00 $2,728,657,109.00 +17.3%
2017 $1,342,516,992.84 $984,335,543.95 $2,326,852,536.79 +2.9%
2016 $1,117,656,848.00 $1,143,877,972.00 $2,261,534,820.00 -6.4%
2015 $1,187,389,485.21 $1,229,049,502.21 $2,416,438,987.42 -4.4%
2014 $1,228,201,491.23 $1,299,365,811.19 $2,527,567,302.42 +4.0%
2013 $1,114,263,226.00 $1,315,035,458.50 $2,429,298,684.50 +9.0%
2012 N/A N/A $2,229,317,197.54 N/A

More information about the AEA Avionics Market Report is available online at www.aea.net/marketreport

History and Background Information:
The AEA first introduced its Avionics Market Report March 26, 2013, during the 56th annual AEA International Convention & Trade Show in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Prior to 2012, there never had been an effort to capture the true dollar size of the business and general aviation avionics market. The concept to produce the AEA Avionics Market Report began in April 2012, when the AEA formed an ad hoc committee comprised of representatives of avionics manufacturers to create a tool for strategic planning and examining market share.

Avionics Market Report LogoTo ensure confidentiality, the participating manufacturing companies submit their sales figures to an independent third-party firm retained to produce the AEA Avionics Market Report. The companies currently participating in the report include:

  • ACR Artex
  • ALTO Aviation
  • Anodyne Electronics Manufacturing Corp.
  • Appareo
  • Aspen Avionics
  • BendixKing
  • Blue Avionics
  • Cobham Aerospace Connectivity
  • Collins Aerospace
  • FreeFlight Systems
  • Garmin
  • Genesys Aerosystems
  • Gogo Business Aviation
  • Honeywell Business & General Aviation
  • Jupiter Avionics Corp.
  • Latitude Technologies Corp.
  • L3 Commercial Aviation
  • Mid-Continent Instruments and Avionics
  • PS Engineering Inc.
  • Sandia Aerospace
  • Shadin Avionics
  • Trig Avionics Limited
  • Universal Avionics, an Elbit Systems Co. 

 

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Founded in 1957, the Aircraft Electronics Association represents nearly 1,300 member companies in more than 40 countries, including approved maintenance organizations specializing in maintenance, repair and installation of aircraft electronics systems in general aviation aircraft. The AEA membership also includes manufacturers of aircraft electronics equipment, instrument repair facilities, instrument manufacturers, airframe manufacturers, test equipment manufacturers, major distributors, engineers and educational institutions.

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