Industry "More Pessimistic Than Is Warranted"
Aviation industry analyst Brian Foley says GA is entering a
recovery phase as 2010 begins. Foley, who was predicting
"measurable signs of recovery by mid-2010" at this time last year,
says his outlook has not changed.
Still, the analyst does not predict a speedy recovery. He says
it will be gradual and stealthy when compared to the abrupt drop
that got us here. "Whereas we were whiplashed by the speed
and severity of the downturn, we've now begun a six-year upcycle
whose pace will seem glacial in comparison. We were also a little
spoiled by the robustness of business conditions near the top of
the last cycle. The new "normal" will average out
somewhere between then and now, and expectations should be
recalibrated accordingly."
Foley says after the steep decline in the GA industry, the
psychological pendulum has swung too far the other way, with the
industry feeling generally more pessimistic than is
warranted. "This, too, is understandable," he said.
"We've all been bombarded by negativity for so long, and suffered
firsthand the downturns in our own businesses, that it's hard to
visualize an improvement."
Foley cites key evidence behind the brightening outlook.
For example, the US Treasury yield curve is widening to a record,
signaling recovery. And the US Gross Domestic Product
(GDP) climbed to 2.2% in the third quarter of 2009 (historically,
3% would indicate a favorable aircraft-sales environment), the
fastest pace since 2007. Stock markets around the world have
rebounded smartly and the dollar value is still low. "With
their strong local currencies and faster healing economies, it's
our thesis that non-US buyers will deplete the most desirable
pre-owned inventory, forcing still-recovering US buyers to lead the
new aircraft recovery later."
Foley adds that while inflation doesn't seem to be a problem
(yet), he believes some may hedge by buying hard, high-value assets
(such as an airplane) at today's depressed prices and low interest
rates. Finally, pent-up demand can't be overlooked as
the sales drought approaches its second anniversary in 2010.
"Just as some individual investors regret having sold their stocks
at a market low, there's likely a degree of remorse among one-time
buyers who cancelled orders prematurely."
Foley said that while historically the typical general aviation
cycle lasts around six years, this downcycle was compressed into a
much shorter time frame by a monumental shock forcing it to trough
in a matter of months, not years. "With that
catastrophic event now largely behind us, we've likely already
embarked on what will hopefully be a full six-year upswing."