The last year has been traumatic for GA: Orders have dropped precipitously, customers have cancelled orders, manufacturers and other companies have had layoffs, and the industry has been battered by attacks against business aviation and federal funding for GA airports.

“We’ve been through a free fall,” Jack Pelton, Cessna Aircraft Co. chairman, president and CEO, said opening day of the AOPA Aviation Summit.

But he sees signs that the free fall as stopped.

“We’re stabilizing now,” he said, noting Cessna officials are looking to 2011-2012 for recovery. “The worst is behind us.”

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