CSI Aviation
CSI Aviation is a privately held FAA Part 135 air carrier (founded 1979, Albuquerque, NM) providing medical air ambulance, passenger charter, cargo, and federal government aviation services to ICE, DOD, healthcare systems, and corporate clients worldwide.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1979
- HeadquartersAlbuquerque, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What CSI Aviation does
CSI Aviation, Inc. is a privately held FAA Part 135 Air Carrier founded in 1979 and headquartered in Albuquerque, New Mexico. The company operates a diversified aviation services platform spanning four core lines: medical flight services (fixed-wing air ambulance with medically configured Beechcraft King Air aircraft functioning as mobile ICUs, staffed by critical care nurses and paramedics and equipped with Hamilton-T1 ventilators), passenger charter (corporate, executive, and group), cargo transportation, and government aviation services (ICE deportation flights, DOD military airlift support via TRANSCOM/CRAF, and aircraft leasing). CSI holds worldwide operating authority under Part 135, an ARG/US Gold safety rating, NAAMTA medical transport accreditation, DOD CARB certification, and has been a GSA Schedule holder since 2004. The fleet and operations are anchored by King Air aircraft (C90 through 350 series) with Garmin G1000 avionics, supported by bases in Albuquerque, Midland, Killeen, West Palm Beach, and a global partner network of vetted Part 135/121 carriers.
CSI generates revenue primarily through federal government contracts, with ICE immigration enforcement flights representing the dominant and fastest-growing stream (cumulative ICE contract value exceeded $1.2 billion under the second Trump administration, including a five-year subcontract arrangement with Global Crossing Airlines generating approximately $65 million annually). Secondary streams include medical transport (in-network with major insurance plans, no balance billing), corporate and executive charter, cargo, aviation logistics (fuel, ground support, aircraft acquisition support), aircraft management, and emergency response. Go-to-market is relationship-driven enterprise and direct-to-consumer: government work flows through long-standing GSA Schedule and direct federal contracting relationships, while medical and charter customers engage via phone and website quote requests. The company also holds a wholly-owned subsidiary, Seeker Aircraft (acquired 2014), focused on aerial observation and surveillance.
CSI Aviation firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- CSI Aviation
- Legal name
- CSI Aviation, Inc.
- Website
- https://csiaviation.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1979
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- CSI Aviation is a privately held FAA Part 135 air carrier (founded 1979, Albuquerque, NM) providing medical air ambulance, passenger charter, cargo, and federal government aviation services to ICE, DOD, healthcare systems, and corporate clients worldwide.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
CSI Aviation industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Air Charter and Medical Transport Services
- NAICS
- Other Nonscheduled Air Transportation (481219), Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation (481211), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (48121), Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812)
- SIC
- Air Transportation, Nonscheduled (4522), Air Courier Services (4513), Air Transportation, Scheduled (4512)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Corporate Flight Departments (In-House Business Aviation) (THABAFAE)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Government & Military Passenger Charters (TLAFABAF), Humanitarian, Relief & Government Cargo Airlift (THABAEAI)
Keywords
Where CSI Aviation is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Albuquerque
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices6 records
Markets served
CSI Aviation business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Supply Chain, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Government Contracts: Federal government contracts including ICE deportation flights, DOD military airlift support, and GSA Schedule services. Since 1990, CSI has held numerous federal government contracts for charter flights, aircraft lease, aircraft purchase and support services.
- ICE Deportation Flights: Major contractor for ICE immigration enforcement flights. Earned over $1.2 billion under Trump administration for immigrant transport flights.
- Medical Flight Services: Air ambulance and medical transport services including emergency and non-emergency patient flights, hospital-to-hospital transfers, organ transplant flights, and neonatal transport. Operates 24/7/365 with NAAMTA certification.
- Passenger Charter Services: Private and corporate air charter for executives, athletic teams, government agencies, and individuals. Includes executive jet charter, group charters, and aircraft leasing.
- Cargo Transport: Cargo air transportation services for various cargo needs.
- Aviation Logistics: Ground support services, aircraft fuel supply (24/7/365), staging and security services, and aircraft acquisition support. Based on years of experience supporting charter flight operations.
- Subcontractor to Global Crossing Airlines: Five-year government contract with ICE as subcontractor to CSI Aviation, generating approximately $65 million in annualized revenue.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Quote-based pricing for all services |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
CSI Aviation product offering
Product offeringCore offering
CSI Aviation operates a diversified aviation services portfolio under an FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate with worldwide authority, delivering air ambulance/medical flight services, passenger and cargo charter, government aviation contracting, aviation logistics, aircraft management, and emergency response. The company combines its own medically configured King Air fleet and operations centers with a screened global partner network to serve federal agencies, healthcare systems, corporations, and individuals.
Product overview
CSI Aviation is an air transportation and charter company founded in 1979 providing a portfolio of aviation services. The company operates as both an aircraft operator and aviation management company offering Medical Flight Services/Air Ambulance (its flagship service featuring King Air aircraft with mobile ICU capabilities), Air Charter Services, Executive/Corporate Charter Jet Services, Government Services, Cargo Services, Aviation Logistics, Aircraft Management, Emergency Response Services, and Case Management Services. The company holds FAA Part 135 certification with worldwide operating authority and manages a global network of aviation partners to deliver services globally.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Medical Flight Services / Air Ambulance
- Air Charter Services
- Government Services
- Executive Charter Jet Services
- Corporate Charter Jet Services
- Cargo Services
- Aviation Logistics
- Aircraft Management
- Emergency Response Services
Quantifiable outcome
- No accidents, incidents, or FAA sanctions in company history
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use CSI Aviation
Customer profileNamed customers6 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
CSI Aviation technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature5 records
CSI Aviation partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Global Crossing AirlinescoreCSI Aviation serves as the prime contractor with Global Crossing Airlines as subcontractor for a five-year ICE government contract generating approximately $65 million in annualized revenue.
- Atlas AircorePartnership for Pilot Pathways Program, supporting pilot career development and pathway opportunities.
- Seeker AircraftcoreSeeker Aircraft is a fully-owned subsidiary of CSI Aviation, specializing in aerial observation and surveillance missions. CSI Aviation subsidiary acquired Australian airplane maker.
- Various Insurance CompaniescoreCSI is an in-network provider supporting numerous health insurance plans for medical transport services. Works with insurance companies to provide reasonable in-network rates without balance billing.
- Killeen-Fort Hood Regional AirportminorHangar lease agreement generating approximately $1.6M for the airport over 10 years. Ribbon-cutting ceremonies for new hangar facilities in 2022.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
CSI Aviation competitors and assessment
Company assessmentBroad incumbents
- Wheels Up: Large membership-based private aviation platform. Competes for the same corporate and executive charter demand as CSI's charter jet services, with much broader scale.
- NetJets: Largest global fractional jet ownership and charter provider owned by Berkshire Hathaway. Competes with CSI's executive/corporate charter for premium private aviation customers at significantly larger scale.
- JSX (formerly JetSuiteX): Public charter semi-scheduled regional operator. Comparable in private/charter air travel positioning, though at significantly larger scale and with a different route model.
Direct peers
- Air Methods: Largest US air ambulance operator providing helicopter and fixed-wing medical transport with similar NAAMTA-equivalent accreditation and hospital network contracts. Directly comparable in mission profile and customer base to CSI's medical flight services.
- PHI Aviation: Operates air medical and offshore/oil-and-gas aviation services across the US, overlapping with CSI's medical transport and energy-sector charter work. Comparable FAA Part 135 operator with comparable customer mix.
- Global Crossing Airlines: Charter and scheduled carrier operating Part 121 service and serving as CSI's subcontractor on the ICE mission. Directly comparable business model with overlapping government charter exposure.
- Metro Aviation: Air medical transport operator with hospital-based programs and FAA Part 135 certification. Direct peer in the hospital-affiliated fixed-wing and rotor-wing medical transport segment.
- EagleMed (Air Medical Group Holdings): Air ambulance operator with fixed-wing and rotor-wing transport services across multiple US states, directly comparable to CSI's inter-hospital and organ transport missions.
- REACH Air Medical Services: Provides fixed-wing and helicopter air ambulance services across the western US with hospital partnerships, overlapping with CSI's medical flight footprint in New Mexico, Arizona, and Texas.
- PlaneSense: Fractional aircraft ownership and charter operator using a Pilatus fleet, comparable to CSI's executive charter and aircraft management programs in target customer profile.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
CSI Aviation social profiles
Digital presenceCSI Aviation compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance12 records
CSI Aviation financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
CSI Aviation leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles3 records
CSI Aviation subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
CSI Aviation funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
CSI Aviation M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A1 record
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about CSI Aviation
What does CSI Aviation do?
CSI Aviation operates a diversified aviation services portfolio under an FAA Part 135 Air Carrier Certificate with worldwide authority, delivering air ambulance/medical flight services, passenger and cargo charter, government aviation contracting, aviation logistics, aircraft management, and emergency response. The company combines its own medically configured King Air fleet and operations centers with a screened global partner network to serve federal agencies, healthcare systems, corporations, and individuals.
Is CSI Aviation a public or private company?
CSI Aviation is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was CSI Aviation founded?
CSI Aviation was founded in 1979. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is CSI Aviation based?
CSI Aviation is headquartered in Albuquerque, United States, in the North America region.
How does CSI Aviation make money?
Seven revenue lines are on record. Government Contracts are the primary driver. The others are ICE Deportation Flights, medical Flight Services, passenger Charter Services, cargo Transport, aviation Logistics and subcontractor to Global Crossing Airlines.
Who are CSI Aviation's main competitors?
Broad incumbents on record are Wheels Up, NetJets and JSX (formerly JetSuiteX). Direct peers are Air Methods, PHI Aviation, Global Crossing Airlines, Metro Aviation, EagleMed (Air Medical Group Holdings), REACH Air Medical Services and PlaneSense.
Does CSI Aviation have an API?
No public API is recorded for CSI Aviation.
What industry is CSI Aviation in?
CSI Aviation's product category is Air Charter and Medical Transport Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is THABAFAE, Corporate Flight Departments (In-House Business Aviation), with a secondary code of TLAFABAF, Government & Military Passenger Charters. Its NAICS code is 481219 and its SIC code is 4522.