Bridger Aerospace, one of the country’s largest aerial firefighting companies, is purchasing Bighorn Airways’ fleet of 12 aircraft used for smokejumping and special mission transport for government agencies. The transaction, valued at $39 million, is expected to close by the end of September, financed through a combination of cash and stock.
“This expands our aerial firefighting services to new mission critical areas,” said Tim Sheehy, CEO at Bridger. “Bighorn provides year-round logistics for the Department of Defense. From providing aircraft and flight crews in support of the smokejumper program, to flying missions in the North Pole region of Alaska, Bighorn adds to what is now the largest specialty wildfire aviation fleet in the country. We are honored to welcome Bighorn to the Bridger family.”
Bighorn Airways was founded in 1947 with three planes working aerial spray operations for local ranchers. The company grew into Wyoming’s largest aviation service provider, with aircraft and helicopter charter service, aerial spraying, and full FBO services including aircraft refueling, maintenance, and avionics service.
Based in Sheridan, Bighorn has a fleet of 12 aircraft including three Dash-8 planes (De Havilland Canada DHC-8s) with a 7500 lb. payload capacity, a range of 1200 miles, and capability of low-level flights. Bighorn also operates four Casa 212-200 and five Dornier 228-200 twin turboprops capable of short takeoff and landings.
“Mountain flying is a very demanding skill set, you got to spend years learning how to fly safely in the mountains,” Sheehy, who flies Bridger’s Super Scooper, recently told KHQ-TV. “Amphibious aviation is a very specific skill set, people will spend years learning how to be high-speed boat drivers and pilots at the same time.” Sheehy said aerial firefighting combines all those skill sets together.
Bridger Aerospace, started by Sheehy in 2014 after nearly a decade as a Navy SEAL, has contracts with agencies in both the U.S. and Canada, and has two scoopers currently at Coeur d’Alene airport flying for the Forest Service.
P.S. MAFFS, use 10 planes to fly in formation over these big fires; it is a big problem, and will really help with reducing global warming!
Dr. Mike, what do you figure the ten C5 aircraft plus conversion plus annual training and support staff would cost?
please note:(? Australia) just bought 100 c130 air planes for 6.6
billion dollars!
I understand that the cost of building 10 C5A planes would be
astronomical. But what are the costs of not building them, maybe
uncontrolled global warming?!It is not as if we need to invent a new
technology; we have all the parts already right in front of us. The
MAFFS already train their pilots how to fly these types planes; they
have the proper mechanical support; they can refuel the planes and
refill the tanks quickly. We just have to build one prototype and
prove that is works. Then we can apply for some of the massive global
warming subsidies such as those provided for wind and solar
development.
Note, one country just paid 6.6 billion dollars to
purchase this type of fire fighting planes. Or maybe we could make
people aware of the problem and start a national Go Fund Me program in
order to provide the funds to build the plane.
I understand also that there is a pervasive underlying philosophy that
believes that massive forest fires are not only inevitable but also
beneficial; they burn up massive amounts of deadwood that is in the
forest. But I believe that this philosophy is wrong; they also burnup
all the trees as well! The trees are essential! They soak up the CO2
and release oxygen into the air! They are the answer to global
warming!
I have been to several National Parks across the country both before
and after massive forest fires, and all one sees are dead trees as far
as the eye can see! It will be years, if ever, before they will be
replaced with new trees! I have seen on television programs about
massive projects that America has built! We can do this; it just needs
to be emphasized that the need is real and that we can do it!
Recently there have been massive forest fires across Canada; they are
still raging. They have sent massive clouds of smoke over the U.S.
There were multiple warnings in multiple cities for people to stay
indoors. Subsequently, there were record high temperatures which I
submit were due to the massive release of CO2 into the air by these
fires. There have been other massive forest fires ,e.g., in Europe and
the Mediterranean recently; I am sure they would like help in dealing
with them. Wouldn’t it be great if we could offer help in the near
future with gaining complete control of these fires? Maybe we could
resolve the deadwood problem preemptively by constant ground control
maintenance. Maybe also we could offer preemptive rain showers
delivered over identified, potential forest fire hazard areas. It is
time to put better fire trucks (C5As) into the sky in order to
alleviate this pressing problem!
The MAFF’s guys have the right idea. but their planes are too small; they need to upgrade to the C5A or C5M planes; which can carry 130 tons of water; also use the polypropylene tanks (8-10) in series to prevent load shift, and use two Hudson River Fire Boat type fire hose out the back in order to deliver enough water out over these big fires!
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Interesting, when one presents a trillion dollar idea for nothing, and nobody will do anything with it! I don’t have the finances to promote the idea, but I know it would work and benefit everyone!
The C5A plane is a military aircraft used to transport heavy military
equipment; the plane can carry 130 tons of cargo! It has a flat
compartment capable of carrying tied down cargo; the back of the plane
can be open inflight. I have seen these planes take off and land at
Dover air base ; they are capable of very low level flight over land.
I have seen the farming and irrigation people use large polypropylene
tanks to hall and dispense their liquid. Water weighs 8 lbs. per
gallon; a 2500 gallon tank would carry 10 tons of water; if 8- 10
tanks were loaded in series with two fire hoses of the kind used on
the fire boats on the Hudson river mounted at the back of the plane,
one could fly over the forest fire and put it out in no time. If the
prototype works out, then one could make 10 to 12 planes which could
fly over large forest fires and put them out in no time! The planes
have an international range and could fly all over the world and put
out large forest fires. The planes could also be used for drought
irrigation, mosquito control, fertilization, etc. The control of large
forest fires would also be beneficial in climate control by
drastically reducing carbon emission and maintaining carbon capturing
plants ! Please give this matter your consideration, Thank you! .
Thank you Mike for the idea
However there are many a C5 mechanic and myself who loaded a C5 with a few of our AH1 Cobras from the MN areas headed for Ft Drum
Blew a hydraulic line and waited 10 days for it to depart circa 2001
Great idea…but it would need to come with a HEAVY bankroll and HEAVY support likened to 10 Tanker LLC
Great aircraft with a maintenance history that requires ALOT of support and probably guzzles more fuel than the DC10
As a commentor on this web site for over fifteen years it’s always good to hear thinking outside of the box. You are on the right track, larger capacity airplanes, like the DC 10 and 747. Worldwide there are only four Very Large Air Tankers (VLATs) in the world. Any day during the week only three are available with the fourth on a “day of rest” some weekdays all four are in service. Pretty dismal picture. It is the culture of the Forest Service to let little fires become big fires. The Federal government doesn’t produce anything. In the past as today it has always been private industry coming up with ideas and products. Remember the “culture”. Your concept of a C5, 747 Airbus 380 with a proper retardant delivery system is feasible. Selling such a large air tanker to the Federal fire agencies would be an uphill battle. In 1959-60 the 600-gallon TBM was a front line airtanker. Today same story 650 gallons, what progress! Why VLATs? More to come.
Never was a smokejumper. Trained at Redding but left prior to fire season getting under way. Returned to Fence Meadow Helitack later Trimmer Helitack (helijumper) on the Sierra N.F. After ten years with the Forest Service went to work full time for Aero Union Chico, California. Six years later started my career with CDF, (Cal Fire). Thirty-seven years with that fine organization. I was raised in a crop dusting.family. Flying ag in senior year of high school 1965. Air Tankers, have type ratings in DC4 and B-17. To answer your question above No, Yes.. .
Bridger is on the move. When Evergreen and then Global Supertankers introduced the 747 into the fire service the concept wasn’t to drop water/foam/retardant on targets at 1000 gallons to 8400 gallons per drop. The goal was to protect communities when timing was critical. It is becoming more obvious each year globally that the 747 was ahead of its time.
Hi Johnny,
Were you a smokejumper who became an airtanker pilot?