How strong is the evidence, and what remains unknown?

The evidence is strongest for manufacturer deliveries, reported company transactions, disclosed financial results and published programme prices. It is weaker for a deduplicated US services-market total, realised charter transaction prices and comparable recovery outcomes.

Methodological safeguards used in this report:

• Historical observations, forecasts, supplier estimates and desk calculations are labelled separately.
• US, North American and global figures retain their original geography.
• Price averages are not represented as live quotations or customer-weighted transaction indices.
• Closed deals are distinguished from orders, options and future deliveries.
• Commercial market-report summaries are included as estimates with limitations; their underlying models were not audited.
• Recruitment and podcast material was screened for leads and questions, not treated as measured customer demand or verified fleet availability.
• No savings, investment returns, safety outcomes or uninterrupted access are guaranteed.

Bottom line: the most valuable benchmark is a dated, mission-matched comparison of total expenditure, contractual protection and delivered service. Market growth and deal flow provide context; they do not replace that comparison.