Page 6 - Volume 10 Number 8

Through nearly four decades in business, CSI now offers a laundry list of capabilities that generally fall into the segments of transportation, logistics and management. Often they take on complex projects that involve every segment. CSI customers include Fortune 500 corporations, federal agencies, hospitals and medical service providers, athletic organizations, the film industry and other industries such as energy and oil and gas. CSI has provided products and services to dozens of federal entities for more than 20 years and was the first aviation management company to obtain a long-term contract through the U.S. government’s General Services Administration Federal Supply Schedule program.
Weh, who retired a colonel after active service that included three wars, remains CSI’s CEO. He has built a team that combines commercial aviation experience and military experience, both veterans and current military. About 40 percent of the 40 employees are veterans, representing each branch of the military.
“The uniqueness for our company versus others is that we are extremely diversified while being small. We’re
global and we operate at all levels of aviation,” Dunn said. “We do everything from Part 121 program management to Part 135 program management and, now, our own organic-based 135 operations built around the King Airs.”
Blueprint for a flight department
CSI won a contract about 12 years ago that required the company to provide medical flight services. After a decade of contracting aircraft and coordinating these flights for commercial and government customers, CSI decided to acquire its own aircraft.
“We really began to see a need for additional medical flight service providers,” Ramthun said. “With New Mexico being a rural state, there were numerous flights in the state last year using fixed wing aircraft. We saw this high demand first-hand and, it was a natural fit for us to expand to provide medical flight services in our own state and the surrounding region.”
Moving from being a program manager to starting its own flight operation was an easy transition, Dunn said. “We’re currently managing over 10 large Part 121 aircraft – 737s and MD83s – basically running an airline with
CSI Becomes OEM with Seeker Light Observation Aircraft
In 2014, CSI Aviation, Inc. acquired Seabird Aviation, an Australian company that manufactures SB7L-360 series light observation aircraft known as Seekers. CSI owns Seeker Aircraft, Inc. and its wholly owned subsidiary Seabird Aviation Australia Pty, Ltd. Seeker Aircraft, Inc., oversees the manufacture, distribution and support of Seeker models worldwide with headquarters in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
The Seeker has a distinct design featuring a high, fixed wing with a rear-mounted pusher engine and forward crew seating in a helicopter-like cockpit that allows for 270-degree visibility. The two-seat aircraft is purpose-designed to make cost-effective surveillance missions. In addition to excellent cockpit visibility, it offers short takeoff and landing capabilities, seven-hour aloft endurance, easy maintenance in the field and is easily configured to accommodate surveillance and sensor equipment.
In June, the FAA and the Australian Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) issued Normal Category Type Certificates to the Seeker series, allowing the company to sell the Seeker for commercial operations in addition to individuals for personal use. The company expects a dramatic increase in North American sales. Seekers operate around the world, including military missions in the Middle East, wildlife management operations in Africa and low level observation flights to assist ground surveillance by the New Mexico State Police.
CSI says Seeker aircraft offer surveillance and reconnaissance capabilities similar to helicopters but at a fraction of the acquisition and operating costs. Previously it was only manufactured in Australia, but this year Seeker Aircraft, Inc. began a partnership with Erickson, Inc. of Portland, Oregon, for the North American manufacturing operation. The plane sells for under $500,000.
The Seeker fleet. CSI owns Seeker Aircraft, Inc., which manufactures SB7L-360 series light observation aircraft known as Seekers. (PHOTO CREDIT: EDGAR CHAPARRO)
4 • KING AIR MAGAZINE AUGUST 2016