Business aircraft deliveries showed a healthy 8.7-percent year-over-year jump during the first nine months of this year, according to third-quarter data released today by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA). Billings also rose about 4 percent during this period, to $16.02 billion.

“The optimism about the general aviation market on display at NBAA’s convention last week is reflected in the continued recovery of the business jet and piston-engine segments this quarter,” said GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce. “New products are helping to fuel our industry’s continued growth as we continue to emerge from the recession.”

Through the first three quarters of the year, OEMs handed over 460 business jets, an increase of 9.3 percent over the 421 delivered through the same period last year. Leading the way was Bombardier, which showed increases at both ends of its range with 15 Learjet 70/75 deliveries through the first nine months and 55 Global 5000/6000s (10 more than in the same time frame last year). Gulfstream also handed over eight more midsize G150s and super-midsize G280s than it did in the first three quarters of last year.

On the pressurized turboprop side, deliveries tallied 178 for the first nine months of the year, a rise of 7.3 percent on the same period a year ago. Meanwhile, piston shipments during the first three quarters rose by 19.5 percent year-over-year. GAMA also reported 583 helicopter deliveries in the first nine months; it did not track this segment in previous years.