| General Aviation has seen some rocky years since | | | | many of whom have 100s of advanced orders. One |
| 9-11, as it spun into a financial disaster for many Fixed | | | | issue is that India and China's small light single engine |
| Based Operators. Much of this was media induced, as | | | | aircraft manufacturers are coming online and are going |
| general aviation had little to do with the International | | | | to increase competition for US light aircraft |
| Terrorists attacks on that fateful day. Most of the | | | | manufacturers here and abroad and this trend will |
| collapse came from government over regulation and | | | | continue to be an issue in 2006, but most likely become |
| mass media hysteria calling for more laws in the | | | | a very big issue by 2008. |
| general aviation sector. But even so General Aviation | | | | Fuel costs for General Aviation have always been of |
| was not breaking any speed records prior to that due | | | | concern and this will prompt more EAA or |
| to high fuel costs, nothing like today, but high never the | | | | Experimental Aviation Association aircraft on to the |
| less and liability insurance costs due to outrageous | | | | scene, many of which have kits to use automotive |
| litigation costs and kangaroo court awards. Typically a | | | | fuels instead. Some ethanol is also being used in some |
| small aircraft has over $75,000 built into the cost | | | | states now for general aviation users. As NASA |
| merely so the manufacture can maintain a defense | | | | continues its work to make general aviation safer, |
| fund to fight finished products liability costs when a | | | | more efficient and cost effective through its SATS |
| small aircraft crashes and generally it is due to pilot | | | | Program, we will see a re-emergence of popularity in |
| error and not the aircraft itself. | | | | General Aviation back to its height of acceptance. |
| As 2006 gets underway the General Aviation Aircraft | | | | Additionally we are seeing a longer range trend for |
| Maker Market is looking good with new light small jets | | | | Vertical Take Off and Landing or VTOL personal |
| being made for a fraction of what a jet aircraft would | | | | aircraft come to the market perhaps by 2010, as a |
| normally cost and thus tapping into another market for | | | | "flying car" has been promised but has yet to be |
| small and medium sized businesses to have a | | | | produced. General Aviation has always been a better |
| corporate aircraft. Additionally after 9-11 the FAA | | | | place to spend lots of money than make lots of |
| reduced barriers to entry for Fractional Jet Ownership, | | | | money. Many FBO's hope that they are over that |
| thus boosting that sector of General Aviation. Currently | | | | hump now and are looking towards brighter skies and |
| most of Wichita, KS is back to work and smaller | | | | we all hope that government will stop the insanity of |
| start-up companies are opening up in other areas as | | | | bureaucracy and over regulation so that this sector will |
| these new small business jets get FAA Certification, | | | | fly again. Think on it. |