Does anyone have factual or approximate
figures on how much GA traffic has changed in the last few
months/years?

I have no factual data, other than my own observations.

1. Mary and I are observing measurably less traffic in the skies and on
the ground when we fly. We usually fly twice per week, and we spread
our flying around to many GA airports throughout (most often) Iowa and
Wisconsin (sometimes Minnesota, Missouri and Illinois, too) -- and we
see/hear far fewer planes.

2. Perhaps more of a solid number: We're seeing far fewer fly-in
guests at our hotel, even though overall business is up. GA pilots
have always been a small percentage (5%) of our business, but it's way
down from even that level thus far in 2006.

3. Perhaps even more of a solid number. One of the two guys in our
favorite on-field repair shop has sold his share and quit the business.
Part of this was for personal reasons, but mostly it was because there
just isn't enough business to make it profitable. If it weren't for
the remaining guy's interest in building his own airplane, I don't
think he'd still be around, either.

It's all getting scary.
--
Jay Honeck
Iowa City, IA
Pathfinder N56993
www.AlexisParkInn.com
"Your Aviation Destination"