More Changes Coming

For almost as long as Ive been flying, the general aviation industry has been in upheaval. By the mid-1980s, product liability concerns and tax law changes helped remove what was propping up things, and the bottom fell out. Among other outcomes, Cessna stopped making piston-powered airplanes altogether while other manufacturers discontinued numerous models, preferring to concentrate on one or two.

Joseph E. (Jeb) Burnside

Friday, April 21, 2017 at 12:00 AM ET

Verified

Key Takeaways:

The general aviation industry has undergone significant transformations, recovering from a major downturn in the 1980s to see renewed aircraft production and the introduction of new models.
Recent decades have brought numerous technological advancements (e.g., composite construction, glass panels, advanced GPS) and substantial FAA regulatory reforms, including reduced hurdles for equipment installation, a Part 23 rewrite, and alternative pilot medical certification.
Despite the widespread innovations and regulatory changes, the article expresses uncertainty about their ultimate impact, anticipating a mix of positive and negative "unintended consequences" for safety and various industry segments.

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For almost as long as I’ve been flying, the general aviation industry has been in upheaval. By the mid-1980s, product liability concerns and tax law changes helped remove what was propping up things, and the bottom fell out. Among other outcomes, Cessna stopped making piston-powered airplanes altogether while other manufacturers discontinued numerous models, preferring to concentrate on one or two. Once legislation reforming product liability law was enacted, Cessna restarted production of revamped 172, 182 and 206 models in 1996, and types like the Cirrus SR series, Lancair certified and offerings from Diamond entered general aviation’s mainstream in the U.S.