Standard International Trade Classification
U.S. imports of Mechanically Propelled Airplanes and Other Aircraft (Excluding Helicopters), Unladen Weight Exceeding 15,000 kg (SITC 79240) totaled $880.9M in August 2026, imported from 39 countries.
Importers of Mechanically Propelled Airplanes and Other Aircraft (Excluding Helicopters), Unladen Weight Exceeding 15,000 kg paid $858K in duties in August 2026, an average duty rate of 0.10% — duty actually collected as a share of the imports that cleared customs, not the published tariff schedule. Mechanically Propelled Airplanes and Other Aircraft (Excluding Helicopters), Unladen Weight Exceeding 15,000 kg imports of $880.9M in August 2026 ran 12% below the year-to-date monthly average of $999.4M.
Last updated: August 2026 dataWide-body and large narrow-body commercial airliners, heavy military transport derivatives, and large freighter aircraft fall in this category, defined by an empty weight above 15,000 kg. Procurement in this segment is dominated by a handful of major airframe manufacturers, and individual transactions represent some of the highest-value imports in the entire trade classification system. FAA airworthiness validation — often facilitated by bilateral aviation safety agreements with manufacturing countries — is a prerequisite for US registration and operation. Fleet financing structures, export credit agency involvement, and long lead times from order to delivery make this segment distinct from virtually all other import categories.
AI-written summary of the official U.S. Census Bureau trade figures on this page — verify before relying on it.
217 import shipments a month
ECA-backed financing does not change the customs classification or duty treatment of the aircraft itself, but it does affect the ownership and lien structure documented at entry. Customs entry must correctly identify the importer of record, and any security interests held by ECA lenders or lessors should be reflected in the aircraft's FAA registration and title documentation to avoid complications at the time of import.
For trade-data and tariff purposes, the threshold determines which SITC or HTS subheading applies, which can affect duty calculations and statistical reporting obligations. Airlines operating both regional jets (which may fall below the threshold) and mainline jets (above it) need to ensure each aircraft is classified based on its own certified empty weight, as fleet-level averaging is not permitted.
Basic heading 28 of 642 in section 7
Basic heading 79240 · $880.9M of $172.0B
ImportsExports
Imports
$880.9MYoY · free account
Exports
$47.0MYoY · free account
12-mo low · imports
Low · free accountOver the twelve months to August 2026, the U.S. imported $13.8B of Mechanically Propelled Airplanes and Other Aircraft (Excluding Helicopters), Unladen Weight Exceeding 15,000 kg.
Through August 2026 · exports 10 of 12 months reported. Source: U.S. Census Bureau.
Imports · August 2026
origin
France and Canada together supply 71% of it.
customs district
Census does not publish district detail for this classification system.
destination
Census does not publish state detail for this classification system.
entry
Census does not publish port detail for this classification system.
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