The general aviation industry’s rebound continues to sputter, according to first-half shipment numbers released this afternoon by the General Aviation Manufacturers Association. In the first six months of the year, total worldwide GA airplane shipments fell 15.5 percent from the first half of 2010, while total billings were down 22.3 percent, to $7.3 billion. Business jet deliveries in the period totaled 261 aircraft, a decrease of 26.5 percent from the 355 handed over in the first six months of last year. The decrease in the turboprop category was not as severe, with shipments down 8.9 percent from 157 in the first half of 2010 to 143 units over the same period this year. In expressing his frustration over the numbers, GAMA president and CEO Pete Bunce aimed his ire squarely at the White House. “These negative shipment numbers demonstrate precisely how ill-timed and potentially destructive the Obama Administration’s rhetoric and policies toward corporate jets are for general aviation,” he said. “This administration has singled out business aircraft owners with political demagoguery. It is simply astonishing that they cannot connect the dots back to manufacturing jobs and realize they are doing more damage to an industry that has obviously not yet clawed its way out of this recession. Instead of demonizing our industry, President Obama should stand up for general aviation manufacturing jobs.”