Quoted from the Aircraft Bluebook 'Marketline' Newsletter, Volume 15, No.4, the following information should be useful for aircraft buyers and sellers alike. 'It's been said that high tides raise all ships.

Recent good news released about our nation's economy has bolstered confidence across the country. It looks like the recovery is really taking place. The general aviation community has been patiently waiting for this 'tide' to wash up on their beach, but the prices of used aircraft have continued to drop precipitously.

As of late however, there is an unbridled sense of optimism among many dealers and brokers. Prospective buyers and nervous sellers have been asking 'the' question about used aircraft prices again and again for nearly three years: 'Have we reached bottom?' Throughout the industry, the answer is finally and almost unanimously 'yes'.

Every week, significant economic news is released, encouraging aircraft shoppers to come out into the sunshine. What are they finding? Some very nice aircraft at bargain basement prices.

One dealer commented, 'I was wondering how low the prices were going to have to go to find some serious buyers. It seems that they've all been waiting for someone to promise them that the economy was really recovering before they put their (rears) on the line to buy an airplane.'

Well, the proof just keeps on coming. The Commerce Department stunned everyone in late October by reporting that the nation's gross domestic product grew at a 7.2 percent annual rate in the third quarter. It was the strongest increase since the first quarter of 1984; it beat the government analysts' estimates for a 6 percent growth rate. Several economists reported being shocked by this unexpected 18-year high burst of production.

In early November, the Labor Department added to the shock and awe, reporting that US payrolls grew in October for the second straight month, contrary to Wall Street expectations, as the labor market accelerated its recovery from its longest slump since World War II. The most stubborn statistic has remained the unemployment situation. While indicator after indicator has pointed to a recovery, it all appeared to be an illusion as job losses continued to mount. But finally, this report announced that October unemployment fell to 6 percent from 6.1 percent in September.

Will all of this news send scads of aircraft buyers scrambling to take advantage of the low priced aircraft? Probably not. However, things are pointing in the direction of a slow and steady increase in aircraft purchases, and prices should reflect that in coming months.