Analyst Sees 2009 as One of GA's Darkest Years

As more "progress payments" come due, jet manufacturers face challenges as customers might have difficulty raising the cash. Progress payments are scheduled payments toward the sales price, agreed to under a sales contract, and made at fixed dates as the delivery date approaches. According to business aviation analyst Brian Foley, a new, stricter credit culture could mean many of those customers might not be able to get the loans they expected to be available back when they signed their sales contracts. "With 50% of all business jet purchases involving some form of funding, that really impacts the industry." Foley writes that 2009 could close with more cancellations than new jet orders.