Washington, DC, February 10, 2005 – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) expressed concern today that the recently proposed FY06 budgets for both the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) will not provide sufficient resources for these agencies to fulfill essential parts of their mission.

“NASA’s support for high-risk, pre-competitive aeronautics research could compromise long-term development of break-through technologies to improve aviation safety and efficiency,” said GAMA Interim President Ron Swanda. “Reducing NASA’s aeronautics funding by $100 million in FY06 completely ignores recommendations from the President’s Commission on the Future of the United States Aerospace Industry.”

“While a number of elements of the FAA’s budget concern GAMA, under-funding of certification services stands out. Reducing these services could slow introduction of new and improved general aviation products.”

Details of the recently proposed federal budget indicate that FAA will reduce expenditures in FY05 by allowing the number of FAA safety inspectors and engineers to attrite by nearly 250 employees in FY05. In FY06, however, only 97 of these inspectors and engineers will be replaced, leaving a net loss of over 150 employees.

"Some manufacturers have already been notified that certification services will be curtailed this year because of FAA staff reductions,” stated Swanda. “Just as our industry has turned a corner and is growing at near record levels, the FAA’s lack of certification resources could become the biggest obstacle to increasing U.S. jobs and the strength of the U.S. aviation industry.”