More Interest In Single-Engine Piston Airplanes

Executives at Cessna said Thursday at the opening of the annual AOPA Aviation Summit the company has seen an increase in customer interest in its single-engine piston, which it attributed to the recent extension of the federal bonus depreciation tax clause included in a small business stimulus bill recently passed by Congress.

Cessna Corvalis 400TT

“It is still too early to say to what extent the legislation will have on end-of-year sales numbers, but we can say we’ve seen a noticeable increase in activity in the market since passage of the bill in September,” said Mark Patterson, Cessna director of propeller aircraft sales.

Cessna Skyhawk

Under terms of the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010, aircraft purchased as a business tool between Jan.1 and Dec. 31, 2010 may qualify for accelerated depreciation equal to 50 percent of the purchase price, in addition to regular depreciation allowed on the remaining 50 percent. The bonus depreciation clause of a similar law which expired at the end of 2009 was, according to customers surveyed, a major factor in 41 percent of Cessna’s domestic aircraft sales in the fourth quarter last year.

FMI: www.cessna.com