Business aircraft flying in the U.S. rose for the seventh straight month, with activity in June up 3 percent from a year ago, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation services company Argus. In addition, flight activity for the first half climbed 1.6 percent, compared with the same six-month period last year, it said.
Fractional flying came out strong last month, rising 6.5 percent from June last year. Part 91 activity jumped by 3.2 percent, while Part 135 charter flying saw a 1.4-percent gain.
Flight activity by aircraft category was up across the board last month, and large-cabin jets led the way with a gain of 7.9 percent. Light and midsize activity climbed by 4.4 percent and 2.5 percent, respectively. Notably, turboprop flying saw its first year-over-year increase since October 2012, inching up 0.4 percent.
In individual segments, fractional light jets once again came out on top with a 34.3-percent increase. Large-cabin jet flying at the charter and Part 91 operators logged the next biggest gains, at 10.1 percent and 7.5 percent, respectively. Fractional turboprop flying was down 9.1 percent year-over-year.
Argus TraqPak data provides โserial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S. and Canada.โ