Thanks to Leap Day, February's business aviation flight activity in North America climbed by 6.9 percent year-over-year, according to the latest data from aviation services group Argus International. Adjusted flight activity (omitting data for February 29), the year-over-year rise was 3.3 percent.

Flying was up across the board last month by operator category, with the Part 91 segment once again taking the lead, logging an 8.6-percent increase over last February. Part 135 charter activity climbed by 6 percent, while fractional flying returned to positive territory for the first time since November, rising by 2.4 percent year-over-year.

Activity also increased across all aircraft categories last month. Turboprops again led the pack, with flying up by 9.5 percent versus a year ago. Large-cabin jet activity soared by 7.5 percent, closely followed by light jets at 7.3 percent. Midsize jet flying rose by 3.7 percent.

All of the double-digit gains in individual categories were in lighter equipment: fractional light jets, up 12.8 percent year-over-year; Part 135 turboprops, 12.4 percent; and Part 91 light jets, 10.4 percent.

Argus predicts flight activity will increase 2.2 percent year-over-year this month, and projections indicate that the first quarter will be up 4 percent from the same period last year. The company’s TraqPak data logs flight-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S. and Canada.