| Air Transport | | | | characterisation: business flights, air charter, private |
| Continued | | | | aviation, flight training, ballooning, parachuting, gliding, |
| | | | hang gliding, aerial photography, foot-launched powered |
| Up until the 1970's, almost all of the major airlines were | | | | hang gliders, air ambulance, crop dusting, charter flights, |
| classified as flag carriers. As such, they received | | | | traffic reporting, police air patrols and forest fire fighting. |
| sponsorship from their appropriate governments which | | | | Aviation is regulated in a manner dependent upon the |
| meant that they were, to a large extent, protected | | | | country. In the case of general aviation, the regulations |
| from competition. | | | | are dependent upon whether the activity is classified |
| The open skies concept refers to a multilateral air | | | | as private or commercial, and on the type of |
| transport agreement. One of it most important tenants | | | | equipment involved. |
| is that it liberalises the rules for international aviation | | | | There are many manufacturers of small aircraft in this |
| whilst, at the same time, minimising government | | | | market with an emphasis on both the private sector |
| intervention. The agreement covers passenger, cargo | | | | and flight training. The following lists some of the more |
| and combination air transportation, and includes both | | | | prominent contributors: |
| scheduled and charter services. | | | | Cessna - Founded in 1927 in the US, they are best |
| As a result of this agreement, there has been a huge | | | | known for their small, piston engine aircraft. However, |
| increase in competition, associated with greater choice | | | | business jets are also part of their range. |
| for consumers. However, over recent years, many of | | | | Piper - Also founded in 1927 in the US, it too tends to |
| the older airlines have required assistance in the form | | | | specialise in small, piston-powered aircraft. The |
| of government-bailouts, bankruptcy, or mergers with | | | | Cherokee has been one of its most successful |
| larger carriers. The reasons for such a shake-up of | | | | products, used for pilot training around the world. |
| the industry included the rising cost of aviation fuel, low | | | | Diamond - Founded in 1981 in Austria, it produces solely |
| fares resulting from higher competition, increased | | | | piston-powered light aircraft, although a personal jet is |
| salaries, and the crises surrounding the Sept 11, 2001 | | | | in development. |
| attacks and the SARS epidemic. Nevertheless, such a | | | | Mooney - A private US company founded in 1929, it |
| shake-up has created huge opportunities for the | | | | produces solely single engine, piston-powered light |
| growth in low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and | | | | aircraft, and is a leader in civil aviation. |
| Southwest Airlines. | | | | Cirrus Design - A private US company founded in |
| General Aviation | | | | 1984, it produces solely single piston engine light aircraft, |
| This category covers all non-scheduled civil aviation, | | | | although a single-engine jet is currently under |
| both private and commercial. The following lists some | | | | development. |
| of the activity variants covered by such a | | | | |