Federal NAICS Codes

NAICS 481212: Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation

Explore obligations, trends, recent awards, and incumbent contractors for NAICS 481212.

NAICS 481212 federal market metrics

Total obligations
$1.3T
Total awards
18,157 awards
Active obligations
$14.6B
Size standard
1,500 employees

What this NAICS covers

NAICS 481212 covers on-demand charter air freight services using cargo aircraft to transport goods on flexible routing and scheduling, including loading, cargo handling, aircrew operations, flight dispatch, and aircraft operation for irregular or contract charter movements.

Federal opportunities under 481212 typically involve securing on-demand airlift capacity to move freight outside scheduled airlines, meeting timeliness and routing requirements, providing aircraft and crew for specific missions, and ensuring cargo handling, manifesting, and flight dispatch meet contract performance standards.

FY2025 snapshot

Obligations
$4.3B
Awards
1,457
Average award
$2.9M
Change from FY2024
+1.8%

Recent awards

Search contractors

$1,181,963

AEROSTAR INTERNATIONAL, LLC

National Aeronautics and Space Administration

PIID
80AFRC26FA040
PSC
V126 - TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRANSPORTATION: SPACE TRANSPORTATION/LAUNCH

$317,261

TIMBERLINE HELICOPTERS INC

Departmental Offices

PIID
140D0426F0819
PSC
V221 - TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRAVEL/LODGING/RECRUITMENT: PASSENGER AIR CHARTER

$104,586

COLUMBIA HELICOPTERS, INC.

Departmental Offices

PIID
140D0426FP142
PSC
V221 - TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRAVEL/LODGING/RECRUITMENT: PASSENGER AIR CHARTER

$61,311

HILLSBORO AVIATION, INC.

Forest Service

PIID
1202SA26M0716
PSC
F003 - NATURAL RESOURCES/CONSERVATION- FOREST-RANGE FIRE SUPPRESSION/PRESUPPRESSION

$46,333

HILLCREST AIRCRAFT COMPANY

Forest Service

PIID
1202SA26M0711
PSC
F003 - NATURAL RESOURCES/CONSERVATION- FOREST-RANGE FIRE SUPPRESSION/PRESUPPRESSION

$194,660

REDDING AIR SERVICE, INC.

Departmental Offices

PIID
140D0426F0787
PSC
V221 - TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRAVEL/LODGING/RECRUITMENT: PASSENGER AIR CHARTER

$104,032

AIR RESOURCES HELICOPTERS, INC.

Departmental Offices

PIID
140D0426F0789
PSC
V221 - TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRAVEL/LODGING/RECRUITMENT: PASSENGER AIR CHARTER

$309,499

COLUMBIA HELICOPTERS, INC.

Departmental Offices

PIID
140D0426F0744
PSC
V221 - TRANSPORTATION/TRAVEL/RELOCATION- TRAVEL/LODGING/RECRUITMENT: PASSENGER AIR CHARTER

FAQ

What work fits NAICS 481212?
  • Temporary airlift of oversized cargo to remote sites under a short-term charter agreement with contractor-provided aircraft and crew.
  • Ad hoc rapid re-supply missions using cargo-configured aircraft scheduled by the contracting officer for mission-centric cargo delivery.
  • Single-mission or task-order contracts for airlift of critical equipment where contractor manages flight planning, loadmasters, and airworthiness documentation.
  • Contracted air cargo services for time-sensitive deliveries requiring contractor responsibility for weight-and-balance, manifests, and in-flight cargo handling.
When is NAICS 481212 a weak fit?
  • Scheduled cargo airline operations: scope defined by published routes and timetables rather than on-demand charter flight provision with contractor operational control.
  • Passenger-focused air charter services: primary deliverable is passenger transport rather than provision of dedicated freight capacity and cargo handling expertise.
  • Ground freight or intermodal trucking contracts: movement by ground vehicles without the provision of aircraft, flight crews, or airworthiness responsibilities.
What solicitation language points to NAICS 481212?
  • Statement of work requires contractor-owned or leased aircraft, FAA-equivalent airworthiness documentation, and crew certifications under contractor operational control.
  • Deliverables list flight manifests, cargo weight-and-balance reports, loadmaster services, and aircraft maintenance records as part of acceptance criteria.
  • Evaluation criteria emphasize demonstrated aircraft availability, flight operations management, cargo handling procedures, and continuity of aircrew staffing.

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