After a disappointing July, business aircraft flying in the U.S., Caribbean and Canada roared back to life last month, climbing 3 percent year-over-year, according to the latest TraqPak data from business aviation services group Argus International. This fell a bit short of the company’s projection of a 4.5-percent rise in flight activity over last August, however. Argus analysts remain optimistic about this month, predicting a 2.5-percent increase from last September.

There were solid gains at both Part 91 and 135 operators last month, Argus said. Part 91 flying rose 3.5 percent from a year ago, while Part 135 activity jumped 3.7 percent. After seeing a decent gain in July, fractional flying dipped 0.9 percent last month versus a year ago.

All aircraft categories saw increases last month, with large-cabin jets leading the way with a 6.1-percent year-over-year surge. This was followed by a 4-percent ascent in light jet activity, 2.2-percent rise in turboprop flying and 1.7-percent uptick in the midsize jet segment.

Fractional flying saw the largest gains and the only losses in individual segments. Fractional turboprops and large-cabin jets soared 15.7 percent and 15.5 percent, respectively. But fractional light- and midsize-jet activity fell 3.9 percent and 6.3 percent, respectively, dragging down the whole operational category last month.

Argus TraqPak data provides “flight-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S., Canada and the Caribbean.”