EXHIBIT 24(A)
                                POWER OF ATTORNEY



         KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being a
director or officer of General Electric Company, a New York corporation (the
"Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints John F. Welch, Jr., Benjamin W.
Heineman, Jr., Dennis D. Dammerman, and Philip D. Ameen and each of them, his or
her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution
and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead in
any and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, on Form S-8 or such other form as such
attorneys-in-fact, or any of them, may deem necessary or desirable, any
amendments thereto, and all post-effective amendments and supplements to such
registration statement, for the registration of securities in connection with
the GE Stock-Based Compensation and Incentive Plan for Independent Contractors,
the Elano Corporation 401(k) Savings Plan, the Elano Corporation Profit Sharing
Plan, the Elano Corporation Money Purchase Pension Plan, the 1996 Stock Option
Plan for Non-Employee Directors, and two plans for the employees of Middle River
Aircraft Systems division of LMT Sub Inc., in such form(s) as they or any one of
them may approve, and to file the same with all exhibits thereto and other
documents in connection therewith with the Securities and Exchange Commission,
granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents, and each of them, full power
and authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and
necessary to be done to the end that such Registration Statement or Registration
Statements shall comply with the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the
applicable Rules and Regulations adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully
and to all intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby
ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of
them or their substitute or resubstitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his or her
hand this 19th day of December, 1997.





John F. Welch, Jr.                         Dennis D. Dammerman
Chairman of the Board                      Senior Vice President -
(Principal Executive                       Finance (Principal
Officer and Director)                      Financial Officer and Director)



                           
                                                                    







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James I. Cash, Jr.
Director



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Silas S. Cathcart
Director



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Paolo Fresco
Director



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Claudio X. Gonzalez
Director



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Gertrude G. Michelson
Director



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Eugene F. Murphy
Director



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Sam Nunn
Director



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John D. Opie
Director



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Frank H. T. Rhodes
Director



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Douglas A. Warner III
Director


                      A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS