Bridger Aerospace

Bridger Aerospace is an American aerial firefighting and wildfire management services provider.[1] It is notable for its work with the US Forest Service, California Department of Forestry, US Department of the Interior, Texas and New Mexico’s state fire marshal’s offices, and other US government departments.[2][3]

Bridger Aerospace is situated in a 30,000 square feet facility at the Bozeman Yellowstone International Airport in Belgrade, Montana.[2]

History

Bridger Aerospace was founded in 2014 by Tim Sheehy.[1][4][1][2]

Bridger Aerospace conducted its first legal drone mission in July 2018 during the Martin Wildfire in Nevada. Bridger’s crew mapped 435,000 acres of burned land in 11 flight runs.[5][6][7][8]

COVID-19 pandemic response

In March 2020, Bridger Aerospace offered its fleet to healthcare workers for moving supplies and patients as a response to the global COVID-19 pandemic. The construction of the new hangar at their Bozeman facility was halted to divert the workforce towards the Bozeman Deaconess Hospital which was under renovation.[9][10][11][12] Bridger has also used its fleet to bypass commercial shipping channels to deliver face shields to medical personnel in Montana.[13][14][15][16][17]

Fleet

As of February 2020, Bridger Aerospace has 24 aircraft in their fleet.[18][2][12][19]

Aircraft In Fleet Purpose
AC50 Shrike Commander 3 Initial attack aircraft for wildfire command and control, aerial supervision, and resource management
AC90 Turbine Commander 6 Initial attack aircraft for wildfire command and control, aerial supervision, airborne and ground resource management, and aerial ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
K100 Daher Kodiak 4 Initial attack aircraft for wildfire command and control, aerial supervision, airborne and ground resource management, and aerial ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
AT-802 (Firefighter) 1 Initial attack aircraft for wildfire command and control, aerial supervision, airborne and ground resource management, and aerial ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance)
FVR90 2 Beyond Line of Sight (BLOS) airborne intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance, real-time hotspot detection, thermal imaging and geo-location
CL-215 2 Wildfire suppression through low speed targeted water bombing. Other purposes include search and rescue, passenger transportation and emergency supply transportation   
CL-415 EAF 6 Wildfire suppression through targeted water bombing. Other purposes include paramilitary search and rescue, and transportation

References
  1. Writer, By Abby Lynes Chronicle Staff. "Fighting fires and thwarting drones: Belgrade-based sister companies expanding". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  2. "Montana Is Ready To Fight Wildfires With Bridger Aerospace, A Belgrade-based Aerial Firefighting Company » TechLogitic". TechLogitic. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  3. Wilson, Carla. "Fifty to be hired locally for work on waterbombers". Times Colonist. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  4. Just, Rachel Louise. "Bozeman man who survived plane crash is decorated veteran, CEO". KULR-8 Local News. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  5. Writer, Kevin Robinson-Avila | Journal Staff. "NM's Silent Falcon to provide eyes on forest fires". www.abqjournal.com. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  6. Stein, Perrin. "Touring the state: Daines talks wildfire, more during Belgrade stop". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  7. Wright, Michael. "Drones becoming vital part of wildland firefighting". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  8. "CWN drone used to map Martin Fire". Fire Aviation. 2018-07-14. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  9. "Local company offers planes to support patients and healthcare workers". KHQ Right Now. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  10. Houghton, Katheryn. "As cases in Gallatin County spike, Bozeman Health readies for a surge of patients". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  11. "COVID-19: How public safety companies are assisting the frontline pandemic response". EMS1. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  12. "Bridger Aerospace Has All Planes On Deck To Fight Against Wildfires". RocketNews | Top News Stories From Around the Globe. 2020-04-10. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  13. "Bridger Aerospace and Ascent Vision Technologies join forces to deliver COVID-19 PPE". Fire Aviation. 2020-04-15. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  14. "Bridger Aerospace makes face shields for Bozeman Health and emergency responders". KBZK. 2020-04-17. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  15. Evans, Cameron. "Bridger Aerospace delivers face shields to Frenchtown firefighters". missoulian.com. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  16. Christian, Peter. "Frenchtown Fire Incident – Bridger Aerospace Brings More PPE". Newstalk KGVO. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  17. Davidson, Marian (2020-04-16). "Bozeman company donates masks across western Montana". KECI. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  18. Montana, Rachel Louise Just ABC FOX. "Belgrade-based company expanding aerial firefighting fleet". KULR-8 Local News. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
  19. "Bridger Aerospace receives the first Viking CL-415EAF". Fire Aviation. 2020-04-18. Retrieved 2020-05-28.
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