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| Founded | April 1965 (1965-04) |
|---|---|
| Commenced operations | September 1, 1965 (1965-09-01) |
| Ceased operations | 1975 (1975) |
| Operating bases |
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| Fleet size | See Fleet below |
| Parent company | Continental Airlines |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
Continental Air Services, Inc, better known in abbreviations as CASI, was a subsidiary airline of Continental Airlines set up to provide operations and airlift support in Southeast Asia during the Vietnam War. CASI was formed as the South-East Asia Division of Continental in April 1965 with operations starting in September 1965 using approximately 22, mainly STOL, aircraft. Continental formed CASI by paying over a million US dollars for BirdAir (Bird and Sons) and its 350 employees and 22 aircraft. CASI aircraft in Laos were registered as Air Continental. As of 1998 Continental Airlines still operated in the Pacific Islands.[1] In 2010 Continental merged into United Airlines.
CASI, as a Nevada Corporation, was officially located at One East First Street, Reno, Nevada but its headquarters was located at 7300 World Way West, Los Angeles, California. CASI maintained Overseas Offices in Bangkok, Vientiane, and Saigon.[2] CASI's Southeast Asia headquarters was in Vientiane, with operations bases at Phnom Penh, Vientiane, Singapore, Bangkok, and Saigon.
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.[3] Since CASI was operating under US government contracts CASI had a liaison with the US government, Pierre Salinger, who was designated as Vice-President of the operation. Because CASI operated in the southeast Asia region to assist the US government at the conclusion of the war Continental Airlines (CAL) 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). 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. Today, CAL, now United Airlines, continues to operate in that region with a base in Guam.
Initially CASI uniforms were locally made khaki uniforms which were manufactured in different parts of Laos, Thailand or Vietnam. Some shirts are 2-pocket, others are 4-pocket safari-type jackets. Most CASI pilots were issued the baseball cap. A few of the early CASI pilots were issued the "bus driver" hat. Wings were both US-made and Laotian-made and were worn in Vietnam but not in Laos.[4][5]
CASI/Bird Air were known to operate the following aircraft:[6]
Total fleet: 37 to 45 aircraft by 1976
CASI occasionally leased its assets to others such as:
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