General aviation shipments were down 46.8 percent and billings have fallen 23.5 percent in the first nine months of the year, the General Aviation Manufacturers Association reported last week. GA plane makers shipped 1,587 aircraft in the first nine months, compared with 2,982 in the first three quarters of 2008. Billings dropped from $17.995 billion in the first nine months of 2008 to $13.771 billion this year, GAMA said.

Piston deliveries have been particularly hard hit, down 58.7 percent this year to 679. This compared with the 1,646 shipped in the first nine months of 2008. Business jet deliveries are down 37.8 percent to 615, and turboprop deliveries have declined 15.89 percent to 293 in the first nine months, GAMA reported. The third quarter declines were not surprising as some of the major manufacturers - including Cessna and Gulfstream - temporarily shut down their factories to adjust for depressed orders and to avoid further layoffs.

GA plane makers shipped 548 aircraft in the third quarter, compared with the 1,064 delivered during the third quarter of 2008. Billings for the most recent quarter were $4.388 billion, down from the $6.006 billion during the same period last year. Piston aircraft makers Piper, Cirrus, Diamond, Cessna and others reported precipitous drops in third quarter deliveries. Cirrus, for example delivered 68 aircraft during the third quarter, compared with 186 in third quarter 2008. For the nine months, Cirrus deliveries were down from 425 in 2008 to 189 this year.

Business jet makers had their own struggles, with nearly all - except Dassault and Piaggio - reporting declines. Bombardier's Business Aircraft unit shipped 23 fewer jets in the third quarter and 53 fewer in the first nine months. "These shipment and billings figures are a result of this difficult business cycle and reflect the impact of the weak economy," said GAMA President and CEO Pete Bunce. "However, another contributing factor that has led to the disappointing year-to-date numbers is the unwarranted negative attacks on business aviation."