Our Methodology
How we track private jet ownership and calculate emissions
Data Sources
We gather aircraft and flight data from multiple reliable sources to ensure accuracy
Government Registers
Official aircraft registration and ownership records
LLC Filings
Business registration documents linking shell companies to owners
Public Records
Public records to trace ownership
ADS-B Flight History
Real-time flight tracking data from unfiltered ADS-B signals
How We Track Ownership
Private jet owners often use complex structures to obscure ownership.
Our proprietary system connects the dots:
Owner Confidence Score
Each ownership connection is rated on a scale of 1-10 based on the strength and quantity of evidence linking an individual to an aircraft.
Low
High
Transparency Trail Example
Gulfstream G650 (N123XY)
Registered to "Sky Holdings LLC"
LLC filing shows same address as executive's foundation
Flight patterns match executive's public appearances
Confidence Score: 8/10
Emissions Calculation
We calculate CO₂ emissions for each flight using a combination of aircraft-specific data and flight parameters:
Aircraft Model
Each jet model has specific fuel burn rates. We use manufacturer data and industry standards.
Aircraft Model
Calculated using actual flight path data rather than simple point-to-point distance.
Fuel Consumption
Accounts for taxi, takeoff, cruise, and landing phases with different burn rates.
Passenger Load
We use a conservative estimate of 2.5 passengers per private flight when actual data is unavailable.
Our Formula
CO₂ Emissions =
Fuel Used x Emission Factor x Radiative Forcing
- Fuel Used: Calculated per flight phase
- Emission Factor: 3.16 kg CO₂/kg fuel
- Radiative Forcing: 1.9 multiplier
Limitations & Accuracy
We prioritize transparency about what we know and what we estimate:
Confirmed Data
Aircraft registration numbers
Flight paths and timestamps
Aircraft specifications
Fuel burn rates (manufacturer)
Estimated Data
Beneficial ownership connections
Passenger load assumptions
Weather impact on fuel usage
Actual vs. filed flight plans
Confidence Score Guide
Our 1-10 scale rates how confident we are in ownership attribution:
Confidence Scale
1
5
10
Factors that increase confidence:
Direct ownership in public records
LLC/shell company with clear links to individual
Flight patterns correlating with owner's schedule
Multiple independent sources confirming ownership
Score Examples:
9-10: Direct registration or publicly acknowledged ownership
7-8: Strong evidence linking shell company to individual
5-6: Multiple circumstantial links suggesting ownership
3-4: Some evidence but with significant gaps
1-2: Speculative attribution based on limited data
Disclaimers on Methodology
The data presented on CSI is inferential and should be understood as directional, not definitive. We make reasonable efforts to ensure accuracy, but:
- Aircraft ownership can be complex and deliberately obscured
- Emissions calculations involve necessary assumptions
- Flight data may have occasional gaps or inaccuracies
Our goal is to provide transparency about private jet usage and its environmental impact. We welcome corrections and additional information from aircraft owners or operators.