Business aircraft flying in the U.S. rose for the 11th straight month, up 3.2 percent last month versus a year ago, according to data released Tuesday by aviation services company Argus. This is well above the company’s prediction of 0.9-percent growth and makes it the best October since 2008. For this month, Argus is projecting a 3.9-percent year-over-year rise.
Despite fairly weak performance in the first nine months, Part 135 activity came back strong last month, climbing by 4.9 percent from a year ago. This was followed by a 4-percent gain in fractional flying and a 2-percent improvement at Part 91 operations.
Flight activity was positive across all aircraft categories last month, with large-cabin jets leading the way with a 5.9-percent year-over-year jump. Light and midsize jets posted increases of 3.6 percent and 3.4 percent, respectively, while turboprop activity returned to positive territory, rising by 1.5 percent.
Fractional light jet and Part 135 large-cabin jet flying both posted double-digit gains in October–18.5 percent and 16.4 percent, respectively. Only two individual categories experienced erosion in flight activity last month: fractional midsize jets were down 1.5 percent and Part 91 turboprops slid 0.5 percent.
Argus TraqPak data provides “serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S. and Canada.”