Posted on April 15th, 2011
U.S. business aircraft flight activity climbed 4.7 percent last month versus a year ago thanks to increased flying at Part 91 and fractional operators, according to TraqPak data released yesterday by aviation services company Argus. Part 91 flight activity surged by nearly double digits–up 9.5 percent–while fractionals saw a healthy 5.7-percent rise. The Part 135 market was the only sector that saw a decline in activity; it was down 3.2 percent year-over-year. All aircraft categories saw increased activity last month. Large-cabin jets took the lead, with 9.4 percent year-over-year growth, followed by midsize jets at 6.4 percent and turboprops at 3.4 percent. Several individual market segments actually recorded double-digit gains, with Part 91 large-cabin jets out in front with an increase of 12.1 percent. This was followed by large-cabin fractional flying, up 11.1 percent; Part 91 turboprops, 10.4 percent; and Part 91 light jets, 10 percent. Argus’s TraqPak data “is serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S.”
