Bunce Urges Lawmakers to Address Fiscal Uncertainty and Bureaucratic Inefficiencies that Hamper the Global Economy

WASHINGTON, DC, November 7, 2012 – The General Aviation Manufacturers Association (GAMA) today released the results of the first nine months of general aviation industry shipments and billings for 2012. Airplane shipments increased 4.2 percent compared to 2011 while the accompanying value of the airplane deliveries rose 1.4 percent.

“What we heard from our customers recently at AOPA’s summit and NBAA’s convention indicate that purchase decisions continue to be delayed due to fiscal uncertainty in our North American and European markets," said GAMA’s President and CEO, Pete Bunce. "Now that the U.S. election is behind us, we hope that legislators quickly act on the nation’s budget crisis so that individuals and businesses can begin to chart their own long range fiscal paths."

Piston engine powered airplane shipments grew 3.5 percent to 597 for the first nine months of 2012 compared to last year. Turboprop airplanes saw the strongest growth with 368 units compared to 333 in 2011 which is a 10.5 percent increase. There was one more business jet delivered year-to-date in 2012 compared to the 2011 shipments.

"GAMA will continue to address important industry issues, such as the research and development tax credit, depreciation policy, user fees, NextGen and aircraft certification streamlining," said Bunce.  "Additionally, GAMA will engage with global regulatory authorities to identify bureaucratic inefficiencies and unnecessary regulation that drive up costs, increase unemployment, and severely hamper our industry’s recovery.”

NOTE: GAMA’s year-end General Aviation Shipment Report will be published on February 12, 2013.