The Aircraft Electronics Association's first-quarter 2015 Avionics Market Report reveals that in the first three months of the year, total worldwide business and general aviation avionics sales amounted to $587,100,212.92 as reported by the participating companies.

The figure represented a 9.9 percent decrease in sales compared to the first-quarter 2014 and is more in line with 2013 when first-quarter sales totaled just over $586m.

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 $587 million in first-quarter 2015 sales, 52.8 percent came from forward-fit (avionics equipment installed by airframe manufacturers during original production) sales. The retrofit (avionics equipment installed after original production) market amounted to 47.2 percent 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, 65.5 percent of the first-quarter sales volume occurred in North America (U.S. and Canada), while 34.5 percent took place in other international markets.

"The first-quarter decline in sales is somewhat disappointing after the modest 4 percent year-over-year growth noted in the year-end 2014 report," said AEA President Paula Derks. "The rest of 2015 will interesting to watch as the general aviation electronics industry is coming off its largest convention and trade show ever, and expects increased activity around the installation of mandated ADS-B Out equipment. We'll also be paying close attention to the strength of the U.S. dollar and its impact on international sales in the coming quarters."