CASI (Continental Air Services Inc.)

  April 1965 to 1975

  United States of America

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TYPE: Non-scheduled airline

IATA/ICAO CODES: Nil

HEADQUARTERS: Los Angeles, CA

FORMER NAME: BirdAir, Bird and Sons

SUBSEQUENT NAME: Air Micronesia

CASI (Continental Air Services Inc) was founded by Continental Airlines at the request of the US government, as a subsidiary providing operations and airlift support in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. For that purpose, Continental purchased BirdAir (Bird and Sons), including its 350 employees and 22 aircraft, mainly STOL, for over a million dollars. CASI became the South-East Asia Division of Continental in April 1965 with operations starting in September 1965. Even though CASI's headquarters were in Los Angeles, CA, its Southeast Asia Headquarters were in Vientiane, Laos, with operations bases at Phnom Penh, Cambodia, Vientiane, Laos, Singapore, Bangkok, Udorn, Thailand and Saigon, South Vietnam.

CASI's original purpose was to operate aircraft and ground facilities to support projects involving construction, oil exploration and engineering companies as well as contracts with USAID and other government agencies. Since CASI was operating under US government contracts, it had a liaison with the US government, Pierre Salinger, who was designated as Vice-Present of the operation. CASI made large profits flying cargo and people for USAID. Rice and other food items, medical supplies, and other aid supplies were flown in Laos and Vietnam. Laos had no railroads and the road network was very poor and unsafe. River traffic ran part of the year on the Mekong between Ban Houei Sai and the falls in south Laos. Thence, Laos was dependent on CASI to move a lot of the aid supplies as well as military equipment.

At the end of the Vietnam War, Continental Airlines was granted a contract with the Micronesian Trust Territory to set up and operate an airline (Air Micronesia) in the Micronesian islands for a designated period (6 years). CASI's aircraft were turned over to that operation. After the 6 years CAL was to turn over the operation to the Trust Territory authorities but that never happen for a number of reasons.

September 1965 to February 1976

CASI operated a total of 8 Commandos.

• Curtiss C-46D Commando: C/N 22293, C/N 22410
• Curtiss C-46F Commando: C/N 22512, C/N 22561
• Riddle C-46R Commando: XW-PHL / N335CA, XW-PHM / N336CA, XW-PHN / N337CA
• Smith Super 46C Commando: C/N 22574