Aviation Profile of
Dennis A. Blackburn
Dennis A. Blackburn is the Founder and President of Corporate Concepts International, Inc. (CCI), a leading global aviation services firm established in 1979. For more than four decades, CCI has provided comprehensive corporate and commercial aviation services, including aviation business development, aircraft and helicopter acquisitions and sales, leasing, aircraft and aviation business appraisals, expert witness engagements, diminutionin-value analyses, pre-purchase inspection management, new aircraft completion management, insurance claims administration.
Dennis' career has been defined by a series of significant accomplishments, including founding and building Corporate Concepts International, Inc. (CCI) into a globally recognized aviation services organization and assembling an industry-leading executive team. Dennis established a distinctive corporate and commercial aviation enterprise, successfully certificated and operated a U.S. Part 121 airline, managed a worldwide fleet of premium corporate aircraft, and led the development of innovative aviation marketing, technology, and creative business solutions. Throughout his career, Dennis has personally accumulated thousands of accident-free flight hours, multiple aircraft ratings and earned a reputation for integrity, professionalism, and enjoys a trusted relationships with a global network of aviation industry leaders.
Dennis's aviation business foundation is rooted in commercial airline operations and premium corporate aviation management and related business activities. During the height of CCI's fleet management activities, he oversaw a worldwide fleet of 69 premium corporate and executive-configured commercial aircraft.
He subsequently founded and served as President of TransMeridian Airlines, a U.S. Part 121 domestic and international air carrier that he built from concept to full operational certification. Working on behalf of a select group of investors, Dennis negotiated the acquisition of the airline's fleet, directed the FAA certification, recruited and organized the management and operational teams, established domestic and international airport facilities, secured office locations, and obtained all required route authorities, operating approvals, and international landing rights. Through his leadership, TransMeridian Airlines progressed from concept to full operational status in a record-setting period for certification and operation and was ultimately sold at the height of its success. Headquartered at Houston George Bush Intercontinental Airport, TransMeridian Airlines operated scheduled service from major U.S. gateways, including Chicago O'Hare, Detroit, Dallas, and Philadelphia, serving fourteen destinations throughout Mexico and the Caribbean during the winter season. During the summer months, airline operations were strategically repositioned, with approximately half of the fleet based in Dublin, Ireland, and the remaining aircraft operating from Ankara, Turkey, serving the European leisure travel market. Passenger load factors consistently approached full capacity through an exclusive partnership with one of the world's largest vacation and tour operators. Throughout its operating history, the airline maintained a 100 percent accident- and incident-free safety record.
Building upon this operational success and an established international reputation, Dennis expanded Corporate Concepts International into one of the aviation industry's respected advisory firms, providing innovation and creativity to new business solutions, aircraft acquisition and disposition services, aviation business development, appraisal services, expert witness testimony, strategic consulting, and transaction advisory services for aviation-related enterprises worldwide.
Under Dennis's leadership, CCI has represented corporations, financial institutions, airlines, government agencies, heads of state, and private clients throughout the world. The firm provides ASA compliant and customized appraisals of business and commercial aircraft, helicopters, engines, aviation-related businesses, and aviation assets. CCI also conducts operational audits, technical asset evaluations, repossession management, safety assessments, and transaction advisory services, supported by an internal threemember appraisal board that ensures the highest standards of valuation accuracy, technical expertise, and professional integrity.
Today, CCI operates through six U.S. offices and five international locations. Dennis brings more than five decades of aviation leadership, operational management, business development, aircraft marketing, and sales experience to CCI's clients. His successful business activities includes managing worldwide corporate aircraft fleet; developing and revitalizing aviation companies and products; certifying, launching, and serving as President of a U.S. Part 121 airline; developing a nationwide EMS helicopter "flying trauma center" business concept in partnership with Airbus Helicopters (formerly Eurocopter); the Stage II hush-kit marketing for the life extension of the worldwide fleet of Boeing 707 aircraft; applying a successful barter and trade program with leading aircraft manufacturers, directing numerous aircraft completion, refurbishment and special use programs; and leading innovative aerospace product development initiatives. His experience also encompasses aviation real estate development, FBO and MRO sales and acquisitions, Part 135 and 121 operations and management, and aviation business valuations.
CCI is currently expanding its capabilities with a new venture into advanced aerospace and defense technologies, including unmanned aerial systems (UAS), counter UAS technologies, and advanced drone platforms, through a new strategic relationship with Kelley Aerospace. Kelley Aerospace is a long-established aerospace and defense technology and drone company relocating its executive offices and manufacturing operations from Singapore to Texas. Dennis serves as Managing Director of Kelley Aerospace USA, where he is responsible for domestic and international sales, marketing, contributing to the strategic business development, and building collaborative relationships with defense organizations, military users, and government agencies worldwide.
Dennis is an Airline Transport Pilot with more than 19,000 accident- and violation-free flight hours. He holds multiple aircraft type ratings and has completed advanced training in a broad range of corporate and commercial aircraft. Throughout his career, he has served on advisory boards for Embraer, Bombardier (Canadair), Lockheed, and North American Rockwell, contributing to the development, marketing and advancement of numerous aircraft programs.
Dennis earned a Bachelor of Arts degree as Valedictorian from Hawthorne College and a Master of Arts degree with High Honors from Bradley University. He also completed postgraduate executive studies at the Amos Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth College. Throughout his career, he has served as a frequent aviation lecturer, commencement speaker, published aviation author, and former appointee by the Governor of Texas the Texas Board of Aviation. His professional affiliations have included the National Business Aviation Association (NBAA), the International Society of Transport Aircraft Trading (ISTAT), the National Aircraft Finance Association (NAFA), Helicopter Association International (HAI), and the Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association (AOPA).
Dennis resides in Austin, Texas. In addition to CCI's headquarters in Austin, Corporate Concepts International maintains executive teams in Raleigh, Charlotte, Chattanooga, San Francisco, and Northern Tennessee, together with international representatives and program managers in Zurich, Cairo, Bangkok, Jeddah, and Mexico City. CCI provides aviation advisory and transaction services on a truly global basis.
