WASHINGTON, DC, April 30, 2004 ─ Today, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) announced that both billings and shipments of general aviation planes rose in the first quarter of 2004 compared to the same period last year. Billings were up 21.1 percent while shipments increased 9.7 percent. Significantly, the industry posted gains in all three model segments—piston-engine, turboprops, and business jets.

“The recovery that began last year in the piston market is not only continuing but spreading to the other model segments,” said GAMA President & CEO Ed Bolen. “Bonus depreciation and a strong economy are clearly having a positive impact on general aviation. We need Congress to quickly extend bonus depreciation to ensure we keep this momentum going through the end of the year and into 2005.”

In 2003, Congress accelerated the depreciation schedule for capital assets, including general aviation aircraft, purchased and placed in service before January 1, 2005. GAMA is working to extend the placed-in-service requirement for GA airplanes because of their long production times.

First quarter shipments of piston-powered airplanes manufactured worldwide increased 33 units in 2004, up from last year’s 361. Turboprop shipments increased from 31 airplanes in the first quarter of 2003 to 32 this year. Business jets were also up with first quarter shipments increasing 13.9 percent, from 101 units last year to 115 units this year.