The Rule of General Aviation Product Liability Limitation in American Law and Its Implication

In order to revitalize the general aviation industry, the United States enacted "The General Aviation Revitalization Act" (GARA), established the rule of repose, and imposed the time limitation for the general aviation product liability suits. The effect of GARA indicates that the safety level of the aircraft has not declined but has been improved, and American general aviation industry has been revitalized. The study of GARA shows that the product liability is only one of the means which have been used to ensure the safety of the product; the product liability can deter the manufacturer, while it also can increase the costs of production and reduce the competitiveness of the product; the emphasis of ensuring the safety of general aviation aircraft should not been on the expost product liability suits but the ex-ante regulation; the legislature could moderately lighten the product liability of aircraft manufacturer to ensure the balance of the interests of relevant parties under the precondition that there is a very sound regulatory system.