What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 481211?

The SBA size standard for NAICS 481211 (Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation) is 1,500 employees in average employee headcount, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.

Is NAICS 481211 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?

Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. CRAF and major charter contracts go to specialized charter operators. Small-business participation is limited.

Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 481211?

For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 481211 were U.S. Transportation Command, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.

What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 481211 contracts?

Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.247-63 (Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers); FAR 52.222-50 (Combating Trafficking in Persons); FAR 52.236-13 (Accident Prevention); FAR 52.245-1 (Government Property); FAR 52.232-25 (Prompt Payment). Each contract instrument will incorporate clauses by reference under FAR 52.252-2; this list reflects the high-frequency set for this NAICS, not an exhaustive flowdown.

Transportation & Warehousing

NAICS 481211 — Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation

Charter air services for federal passenger movement, VIP travel, and military airlift augmentation. Federal use includes USTRANSCOM CRAF, DoD VIP charter, and State Department evacuation flights.

Quick facts

SBA size standard: 1,500 employees; Average employee headcount · 13 C.F.R. § 121.201
FY2024 federal obligations: $500M–$1B; See live USAspending.gov data →

Top federal customers

Federal agencies that obligate the most spending under NAICS 481211 (FY2024 reporting period). Order tracks federal-obligation volume on USAspending.gov.

1.U.S. Transportation Command
2.Department of Defense
3.Department of State
4.Department of Homeland Security
5.Department of Veterans Affairs

Set-aside fit

Whether NAICS 481211 commonly carries set-aside designations on federal awards. Eligibility for any specific solicitation is set by the contracting officer; this table reflects the FY2024 award pattern, not a guarantee of set-aside status.

SDVOSB (Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business)
8(a) Business Development Program
HUBZone Small Business
WOSB / EDWOSB
VOSB (Veteran-Owned Small Business)

CRAF and major charter contracts go to specialized charter operators. Small-business participation is limited.

Frequent prime contractors

Companies that most frequently appear as prime awardees under NAICS 481211 for FY2024. Drawn from USAspending.gov public award records — verify currency at the live link below.

Atlas Air
Omni Air International
Kalitta Air
World Atlantic Airlines
iAero Airways
Sun Country Airlines
Western Global Airlines
National Airlines
Eastern Airlines
Miami Air International

See live award data on USAspending.gov →

Common FAR / DFARS clauses

Frequently flowed-down clauses on contracts in this NAICS. The clause text on acquisition.gov is authoritative; this list captures the practical pattern, not an exhaustive flowdown.

FAR 52.247-63Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers
Fly America Act applies to charter passenger movement.
FAR 52.222-50Combating Trafficking in Persons
Standard services flowdown.
FAR 52.236-13Accident Prevention
Aviation safety flowdowns.
FAR 52.245-1Government Property
CRAF aircraft assignments may include government-furnished property.
FAR 52.232-25Prompt Payment
Standard payment clause.

Indirect rate considerations

Charter operators run airline-style cost structure. Aircraft ownership and maintenance recover via aircraft hour or block-hour rates. CRAF participation triggers government-rate-card economics.

See FieldLedger's Indirect Rate Engine for pool definition and rate tracking, or read the FieldLedger methodology for the underlying FAR Part 31 framework.

How FieldLedger fits NAICS 481211

Equipment costing for aircraft hour recovery. Project P&L for charter mission tracking. Multi-CLIN invoicing for mission-by-mission billing.

DCAA compliance →Indirect Rate Engine →DCAA readiness check →

Frequently asked

What is the SBA size standard for NAICS 481211?: The SBA size standard for NAICS 481211 (Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation) is 1,500 employees in average employee headcount, per 13 C.F.R. § 121.201.
Is NAICS 481211 eligible for SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, or WOSB set-asides?: Set-aside programs that commonly apply: SDVOSB, 8(a), HUBZone, WOSB, VOSB. CRAF and major charter contracts go to specialized charter operators. Small-business participation is limited.
Which federal agencies buy under NAICS 481211?: For FY2024 reporting, the leading federal customers under NAICS 481211 were U.S. Transportation Command, Department of Defense, Department of State, Department of Homeland Security, Department of Veterans Affairs. Live obligation data is available on USAspending.gov.
What FAR or DFARS clauses commonly apply to NAICS 481211 contracts?: Frequent clause flowdowns include FAR 52.247-63 (Preference for U.S.-Flag Air Carriers); FAR 52.222-50 (Combating Trafficking in Persons); FAR 52.236-13 (Accident Prevention); FAR 52.245-1 (Government Property); FAR 52.232-25 (Prompt Payment). Each contract instrument will incorporate clauses by reference under FAR 52.252-2; this list reflects the high-frequency set for this NAICS, not an exhaustive flowdown.
What indirect-rate structure works for a federal contractor in NAICS 481211?: Charter operators run airline-style cost structure. Aircraft ownership and maintenance recover via aircraft hour or block-hour rates. CRAF participation triggers government-rate-card economics.
How does FieldLedger help small federal contractors in NAICS 481211?: Equipment costing for aircraft hour recovery. Project P&L for charter mission tracking. Multi-CLIN invoicing for mission-by-mission billing.

Sources

U.S. Census NAICS manual — census.gov/naics
SBA size-standards table — 13 C.F.R. § 121.201 (eCFR)
Federal obligations + prime awardees — USAspending.gov NAICS 481211
FAR / DFARS clause text — acquisition.gov

Snapshot date: 2026-05-08 (FY2024 reporting period). Federal-obligation bands and prime-contractor lists reflect the data as of the snapshot — refresh against USAspending.gov for current figures.