HOUSTON- According to FlightAware's proprietary flight tracking database, general aviation (GA) flight activity has increased by 22.5% in March 2010 compared to February 2010, and has increased by 6.6% in March 2010 compared to March 2009. The biggest change in activity was led by private operators with a 23.9% increase in activity during March 2010 compared to February 2010. "This is really positive news for general aviation businesses," commented Mark Duell, Vice President of Operations at FlightAware. "The report coming from FlightAware today is the first positive sign of growth in GA activity that we have seen in several months."
The airport with the largest significant gain in GA traffic for the month of March 2010 was Washington Dulles Intl in Washington, DC with a gain of 29.5%, contrasted by the airport with the biggest significant drop in traffic, which was Daytona Beach Intl in Daytona Beach, FL with a loss of 23.4%. Year over year, the airport with the largest significant gain in GA traffic for March 2010 was Nashville Intl in Nashville, TN with an increase of 31.1%, but the biggest drop in GA traffic was found at Daytona Beach Intl in Daytona Beach, FL with a decrease of 8.9%.
General aviation single engine and multi-engine piston activity increased by 37.5% in March 2010 compared to February 2010, turboprop activity increased by 13.4% in March compared to February, and jet activity increased by 12.8% in March compared to February. The aircraft type with the largest significant gain in GA traffic for the month of March was the Piper Cherokee Arrow with a gain of 90.2%, contrasted by the aircraft type with the biggest significant drop in traffic, which was the Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream V with a loss of 1.7%. According to Collin White, a data analyst at FlightAware, the significant gain in month over month traffic for the Piper Arrow is most likely attributed to, "a transition to a more favorable flying season with better weather, especially in the northern parts of the U.S." Interestingly, other single engine piston aircraft saw very large increases in month over month traffic, although none as signficant as the Piper Arrow. Year over year, the aircraft type with the largest significant gain in traffic for March was the Bombardier Challenger 300 with an increase of 28.1%, but the biggest drop in traffic was found with the Socata TBM-700 with a decrease of 24.6%.
| Category | March 2010 vs. February 2010 | March 2010 vs. March 2009 |
|---|---|---|
| General Aviation Activity as a Whole | 22.5% | 6.6% |
| Private Operators | 23.9% | 6.4% |
| Fractional Operators | 9.0% | 8.2% |
| Charter Operators | 7.8% | 24.8% |
| Single & Multi-Engine | 37.5% | 1.1% |
| Turboprop Activity | 13.4% | 7.6 |
| Jet Activity | 12.8% | 14.9% |
| Washington Dulles Intl (largest gain month to month) | 29.5% | 4.1% |
| Nashville Intl (largest gain year to year) | 15.3% | 31.1% |
| Daytona Beach Intl (largest loss month to month) | -23.4% | -8.9% |
| Daytona Beach Intl (largest loss year to year) | -23.4% | -8.9% |
| Piper Cherokee Arrow (largest gain month to month) | 90.2% | 17.5% |
| Bombardier Challenger 300 (largest gain year to year) | 8.0% | 28.1% |
| Gulfstream Aerospace Gulfstream V (largest loss month to month) | -1.7% | 19.8% |
| Socata TBM-700 (largest loss year to year) | 23.1% | -24.6% |
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FlightAware (flightaware.com) is the largest flight tracking, flight data, and flight planning company in the world. FlightAware was the first company to offer free flight tracking services for both private and commercial aircraft in the United States. FlightAware provides flight tracking, flight data, and flight planning services to over two million people a month. FlightAware has offices in Houston and New York.
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