GAMA Goes Global

The General Aviation Manufacturers Association-long a bastion of U.S. aircraft manufacturers-announced that it will now admit foreign aircraft makers as members, following a vote by the group's board of directors.

GAMA president Ed Bolen says the move comes as the organization becomes more immersed in international regulatory affairs through the JAA, ICAO and the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA). The association also participated in the crafting of international ETOPs guidelines.

Expanding to foreign-owned companies is a natural evolution for GAMA. The group has included statistics for non-U.S. manufacturers' aircraft deliveries in quarterly and annual reports for more than a year. Bolen also pointed to multinational companies such as Bombardier that maintain U.S. manufacturing operations even though based abroad.

Bombardier, Dassault Falcon Jet, Embraer and Piaggio are the first non-U.S. manufacturers to apply for entry into GAMA.

Bolen says he welcomes the new members, noting that "expanding our membership to include all general aviation manufacturers . . . allows GAMA to better promote and enhance our industry around the world."