Business aircraft activity showed “tentative signs of recovery” last month, according to data from aviation services company Aviation Research Group/U.S. (ARG/US). “Shortly after the beginning of the global downturn, business aircraft activity has been hit by a slump in demand, but in recent weeks the trend suggests activity could meet 2008 levels in the near term,” the firm said. ARG/US’s TraqPak data–which includes serial-number-specific business aircraft arrivals and departures for all IFR flights in the U.S.–shows July business aircraft activity increased 6 percent from June. However, flight activity decreased 7.9 percent last month compared with the same span last year. Notably, Part 91 turboprop flying increased by 5.4 percent year-over-year, while Avantair drove fractional turboprop activity up by 21.5 percent, ARG/US told AIN. July-to-July figures by aircraft category are: turboprops, +0.3 percent; light jets, -13.8 percent; midsize jets, -11.8 percent; large-cabin jets, -7.1 percent. By aircraft operator type, Part 91 business aircraft traffic fell by only 1.2 percent; Part 135, -13.9 percent; and fractional, -17.6 percent.