Business aviation flight activity last month in North America managed just a razor-thin year-over-year gain of 0.5 percent, according to data released today by aviation services group Argus International. This fell well short of the firm’s projection of 4-percent growth, though it acknowledged that, historically speaking, August has averaged only a 0.3-percent yearly increase in the past three years. For this month, it is estimating a 0.7-percent increase.
Looking at operator category, the Part 135 charter segment is the sole reason for last month’s upward trajectory, climbing 3.4 percent from a year ago. Part 91 activity was nearly flat, falling 0.3 percent, while fractional activity dropped by 3.8 percent.
Only the extreme ends of the aircraft categories saw increases last month, with large-cabin-jet and turboprop flying up 2.6 percent and 1.9 percent, respectively. Light jets decreased by 0.7 percent, while midsize jet activity was down by 1.2 percent.
Examining individual results, Part 135 turboprop flying posted the largest increase last month, rising 7.1 percent. Part 135 midsize- and large-cabin jets, as well as fractional light jets logged respectable gains in the 4- to 5-percent range. Fractional midsize and large-cabin jet activity experienced the largest losses, each dropping by about 6 percent.
Argus’s TraqPak data logs serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR flights in the U.S. and Canada.