The Aircraft Electronics Association’s second-quarter 2016 Avionics Market Report showed continued weakness in avionics spending, with total first-half worldwide sales by participating member companies of $1.115 billion, down 6.5 percent from a year ago. This amount, based on net sales price, includes all components and accessories for cockpits and cabins, as well as software upgrades and portable equipment. It covers both certified and non-certified electronics, in addition to all hardware, batteries and chargeable product upgrades for general and business aviation aircraft.

The forward-fit market—installations in new aircraft—accounted for more than $605 million, 54.3 percent of sales, during the first half of 2016, while the retrofit market amounted to more than $509 million, or 45.7 percent, according to the AEA. North America (U.S. and Canada) accounted for 66.8 percent of total sales.

"With so many new and innovative avionics products introduced to the general aviation market in the first half of the year, it is disappointing to see decreasing sales figures compared to the first six months of 2015, particularly in the retrofit market," said AEA president Paula Derks. "The lower sales figures are somewhat surprising given the fact that the deadline to equip aircraft flying in U.S. controlled airspace with ADS-B OUT avionics is only 40 months away, and the fact that we have seen a slight uptick in the ADS-B equipage pace this year. It will be interesting to see future sales reports following the recent AirVenture Oshkosh event that brought even more avionics products to market, along with the FAA's ADS-B rebate program expected to begin later this year."