Chad is the editor of AINalerts, AIN's daily business aviation newsletter, and is also the news editor at AIN Media Group.&nbsp;He has been writing about aviation, with an emphasis on business aviation, since 1994. Chad started his writing career at The Avion,&nbsp;the&nbsp;student newspaper at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University in Daytona Beach, Florida, serving as editor-in-chief before graduating with a bachelor's in aeronautical science. After a stint as managing editor at Professional Pilot&nbsp;magazine, he joined&nbsp;AIN in late 1998. Chad holds a commercial pilot certificated with instrument and multi-engine ratings, and he also is a CFI/CFII. He lives and works from his home in Venice, Florida.

Online Editor

Chad Trautvetter

Business aircraft activity in the U.S., Canada, and the Caribbean eked out a “modest” 0.9 percent year-over-year gain last month, as the bellwether Part 135 charter market stumbled, according to TraqPak data released today by aviation researcher Argus International. Last month, the firm had predicted that flying would increase by 3.6 percent; this month, Argus is more cautiously calling for a 0.9 percent increase from a year ago.

 


Part 135 has been the stalwart of increases in flight activity over the past few years, but that run ended last month when the segment contracted by 1 percent from July 2017. In a reversal of roles, Part 91 flying, which has been anemic at best in recent times, surged 2.5 percent year-over-year, leading the overall increase last month. Fractional activity was roughly flat from a year ago, rising just 0.1 percent.

 


With the exception of light jets, all business aircraft categories recorded gains last month. Once again, large-cabin jets were at the top of the leaderboard, climbing 2.4 percent year-over-year, followed by midsize jets and turboprops with 1.8 percent and 1.6 percent gains, respectively. Meanwhile, light jet activity dropped by 2.1 percent, continuing recent losses in this category.

 


Part 135 large-cabin jet flying saw the only double-digit gain in individual categories, rising 11.4 percent, while fractional large-cabin jets posted the only double-digit decrease, falling 22.6 percent.

Argus Reports Weak Growth in July for U.S. Bizav Flying

Part 135 has been the stalwart of increases in flight activity over the past few years, but that run ended last month.

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