Piston pain

Cautious optimism after GFC induced pain

Cyclical seems cynical in good times, but is very comforting with aircraft sales in a nose dive far worse than the normal cycle of boom and bust. Single-engine piston aircraft are first to level off. That sector generally leads the curve upward, 18 months or so ahead of recovery in turboprop and jet sales. Better days are ahead, many believe, because they always are.

“Cautious optimism” is the standard. Of the world’s 145,000 general aviation manufacturing employees, 19,700 are laid off. Leaner assembly breeds new efficiency and automation investments.