Bizav Flight Activity Still Increasing

Business aircraft flight activity was 7.9 percent greater in May than in the same month last year, according to aviation services firm Argus. While this exceeds the 4.8 percent year-over-year rise in April, the industry has not seen the double-digit gains in the first half of 2010 that several analysts predicted late last year. Still, activity increased across all aircraft types and one category--midsize jets--did experience a double-digit gain, with flights up 13.6 percent by comparison with May 2009. Activity was also up for light jets (8.3 percent), large-cabin jets (5.2 percent) and turboprops (3.5 percent). Part 135 charter operators saw their flying climb 8.6 percent, while Part 91 and fractional operators each logged a 7.9-percent increase. Notably, midsize jet activity at Part 135 charter operators soared by a whopping 24.6 percent. The only other double-digit increase was for Part 91 midsize jets, which gained 10.9 percent. Meanwhile, both Part 135 turboprop and fractional large-cabin jet flying decreased slightly year-over-year. Argus's data reflects "serial-number-specific aircraft arrival and departure information on all IFR [instrument flight rules] flights in the U.S."