Business aircraft flight activity increased 4.8 percent last month compared with year-ago levels, according to TraqPak data released yesterday by aviation specialized services firm Argus. By aircraft type, midsize jets led with a 7.7-percent increase over the same month last year, followed by light jets (+7 percent) and turboprops (+4.4 percent).
Although sales demand for large-cabin jets has been a bright spot for OEMs, this didn't translate into the segment's flying activity last month, which actually fell 4.6 percent over last year. By type of operation, Part 91 flying increased 3.7 percent from the same period last year, while Part 135 charter operations rose 5.1 percent and fractional flying climbed a healthy 9.9 percent.
Of note, midsize jet activity at both Part 135 and fractional operators soared by double digits–16 and 12.8 percent, respectively. And again because of higher activity at Avantair, fractional turboprop flying climbed 13.8 percent from a year ago.
Argus's TraqPak data "is serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S."