ARG/US a business aviation consultancy based in Cincinnati, reports that arrival and departure activity among turboprops is on the upswing. Compared to May 2008, the number of turboprops operated in May 2009 increased 6.9 percent (in FAR Part 91 operations) and 6 percent (in fractional ownership operations).

Among jet aircraft, the only categories with increased activity were Part 91 mid-size jets, at 0.3 percent. The biggest activity drops were among fractional small-cabin jets (45.7 percent) and Part 135 turboprops (44.7 percent).

Among all categories of turbine-powered business jets—turboprops and small, mid-size, and large-cabin jets—combined activity levels were down 15.5 percent in May 2009 compared to May 2008.

ARG/US estimates that flight activity has dropped an average 0.73 percent per month for the past 12 months.