Business aircraft flying activity in the U.S. increased slightly last month, with traffic rising 1.3 percent from a year ago, according to TraqPak data released Tuesday by aviation services company Argus. Part 91 flying continued its positive trend, climbing 4.5 percent year over year. Activity at charter and fractional providers fell 1 percent and 6.1 percent, respectively, compared with April last year. This marks the 15th consecutive month loss at Part 135 charter companies, though turboprop flying again rose for the second consecutive month, this time by 3.7 percent. Aircraft category results were mostly positive, with large-cabin jets recording the only retrenchment, down 4.9 percent. Turboprop activity led the pack, climbing by 3.8 percent, while light jet and midsize jet flying rose 2.4 percent and 0.1 percent, respectively. By individual market segment, for the sixth month in a row Part 91 light and midsize jets showed the most significant year-over-year increases, with each up 7.3 percent last month. Large-cabin fractional flying fell the hardest, down 9.2 percent from a year ago. Argus TraqPak data “is serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S.”
