Piper reports increased deliveries, revenues

Piper Aircraft has reported an increase in deliveries and revenue this year, defying a generally downward trend across the industry.

Revenues through the end of the third quarter grew to US$92.5 million, up from US$77.6 million last year, a 19 per cent increase, the Florida based light aircraft maker said.

Piper said the growth was driven by stronger deliveries of its M-Class single engine business planes, which rose from 17 in the September quarter of 2010 to 21 this September quarter. In all it delivered 32 aircraft for the quarter.

For the year to date, the company reported delivering 93 new aircraft and said it had its strongest backlog of orders in four years.