Analysis
NAICS 481219 is the 2022 national industry for other nonscheduled air transportation, part of 48121 (Nonscheduled Air Transportation). Census lists 2 example activities under it in the official index.
Between 2018 and 2023 the number of establishments grew 23% and employment rose 15%. The 2018 count used NAICS 2017, so part of a large move can come from codes being redefined rather than from businesses opening or closing.
County Business Patterns counts 621 US establishments in this code in 2023, employing 7,002 people at an average annual payroll of $91,680 per employee (79th percentile of national industries). 71% of the establishments have fewer than five employees, which marks it as a small-business industry.
Census lists 12 related activities that belong elsewhere, most often in 481211, 481212, 115112 and 115310. Businesses that do several things are classified by their primary activity, the one that generates the most value, so check those boundaries before settling on this code.
Its index entries, the activities Census uses to assign businesses to this code, include aircraft charter services (i.e., general purpose aircraft… and aviation clubs providing a variety of air transportation….
For example, providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules are classified in 481211 (Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation) instead.
Official definition
This U.S. industry comprises establishments primarily engaged in providing air transportation with no regular routes and regular schedules (except nonscheduled chartered passenger and/or cargo air transportation). These establishments provide a variety of specialty air transportation or flying services based on individual customer needs using general purpose aircraft.
Illustrative Examples:
Aircraft charter services (i.e., general purpose aircraft used for a variety of specialty air and flying services) Aviation clubs providing a variety of air transportation activities to the general public
Source: US Census Bureau, NAICS 2022 Manual.
Not this code if…
| The business mainly does | Use instead |
|---|---|
| Providing air transportation of passengers or passengers and cargo with no regular routes and regular schedules | 481211 Nonscheduled Chartered Passenger Air Transportation |
| Providing air transportation of cargo without transporting passengers with no regular routes and regular schedules | 481212 Nonscheduled Chartered Freight Air Transportation |
| Crop dusting using specialized aircraft | 115112 Soil Preparation, Planting, and Cultivating |
| Fighting forest fires using specialized water bombers | 115310 Support Activities for Forestry |
| Providing specialized air sightseeing services | 487990 Scenic and Sightseeing Transportation, Other |
| Operating specialized flying schools, including all training for commercial pilots | 611512 Flight Training |
| Providing specialized air ambulance services using specialized equipment | 621910 Ambulance Services |
| Operating recreational aviation clubs | 713990 All Other Amusement and Recreation Industries |
| Operating advocacy aviation clubs | 813319 Other Social Advocacy Organizations |
| Aerial gathering of geophysical data for surveying and mapping | 541360 Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services |
| Providing aerial and/or other surveying and mapping services | 541370 Surveying and Mapping (except Geophysical) Services |
| Independent air pilot services (except owner-operators) | 488190 Other Support Activities for Air Transportation |
Index entries (2)
- Aircraft charter services (i.e., general purpose aircraft used for a variety of specialty air and flying services)
- Aviation clubs providing a variety of air transportation activities to the general public