WICHITA, Kan. — The partial shutdown of the federal government in October delayed 156 airplane deliveries worth $1.9 billion, according to a report.
The U.S. Office of Management and Budget said the 16-day shutdown delayed deliveries and the sale of aircraft because, unlike previous shutdowns, the Federal Aviation Administration’s aircraft registration was shut down for the duration.
The U.S. economy suffered a loss of between $2 billion and $6 billion in output as a result of the shutdown, the OMB estimated.
The Wichita Eagle reported (http://bit.ly/1jtoDff ) that for the aviation industry, the shutdown came at a bad time because the fourth quarter is traditionally the busiest time of the year for shipments.
“Imagine if no citizen of the United States could buy or sell a car, purchase or refinance a home or if the sale of any other critical goods came to a complete and grinding halt – that’s what has basically happened in business aviation,” National Business Aviation Association president and CEO Ed Bolen said at a Capitol Hill rally of aviation leaders held during the shutdown to draw attention to its effect on the industry.
“Because business aviation is more regulated than other industries, the shutdown has had a far more dire impact on business aviation than for other industries.”
The shutdown also prevented the timely and full investigation of 48 airplane accidents by the National Transportation Safety Board, OMB said. The NTSB was able to begin investigations into only two aviation accidents and was also forced to reschedule two important public investigative hearings
OMB’s report also said uncertainty of federal contracts and policies is hurting the defense and aviation industries.
http://www.kansas.com/2013/11/23/3137171/government-shutdown-delayed-156.html#storylink=cpy