Posted on January 9th, 2019
Business aircraft flying activity in the U.S. returned to positive territory last month, with traffic rising 6.1 percent versus the year-ago period, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation services company Argus. As it has for much of the past year, Part 91 flying was solely responsible for the overall gain last month, with activity in this segment climbing a healthy 11.7 percent year over year. Flying activity at charter and fractional providers slipped 0.8 percent and 1.3 percent, respectively, from February 2011. While it was only a marginal loss, it still marks the 13th consecutive month of slowing activity at Part 135 charter companies, though it should be noted that charter turboprop flying did rise by 5.7 percent. Aircraft category results were up almost across the board, with turboprops leading the pack with a 9.3-percent gain. Light jet activity rose 6.6 percent and midsize flying climbed 5 percent. Large-cabin flying was only slightly down, at -0.3 percent. By individual market segment, Part 91 turboprops and light and midsize jets saw double-digit gains of 12.5 percent, 13.5 percent and 15.4 percent, respectively. Part 135 midsize flying recorded the largest drop at -5.4 percent. Argus TraqPak data “is serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S.”
