Billings Flying Service
Billings Flying Service operates the world's largest civilian-owned CH-47D Chinook fleet, providing aerial firefighting, heavy-lift, and CH-47 MRO services to government agencies and commercial operators across the US and internationally. Founded in 1983 and acquired by Quanta Services in Q4 2025.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1983
- HeadquartersBillings, United States
- Headcount51–100
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Billings Flying Service does
Billings Flying Service (BFS) is a Billings, Montana-based aviation services company founded in 1983 by Al and Gary Blain as a third-generation family business. The company specializes in heavy-lift helicopter operations centered on the CH-47D Chinook platform, operating the largest civilian-owned Chinook fleet in the world with 12 active CH-47Ds, one UH-60A Blackhawk, two PC-12s, and six additional Netherlands Defense Ministry surplus CH-47Ds undergoing or awaiting FAA certification. BFS is the first and only commercial holder of an FAA Type Certificate for the CH-47D (acquired 2013/2014), enabling aerial firefighting, heavy-lift construction, oil and gas support, disaster relief, and government flight services with proprietary Internal Tank System (2,500-gallon capacity, 48-second refill) and External Bucket Long-Line System (up to 2,700 gallons).
The company operates an in-house FAA Part 145, AS9110C, and Boeing General MRO certified maintenance facility dedicated to CH-47 component repair and overhaul, serving both its internal fleet and third-party customers including the US military and foreign militaries. BFS reports a 97% aircraft availability rate supported by multimillion-dollar spares inventory and 24/7 AOG support. Revenue is generated through contract-based aerial firefighting (exclusive use and call-when-needed agreements with US Forest Service, CAL Fire, Montana DNRC, and international agencies in Chile, Indonesia, South Korea, and Canada), heavy-lift operations for construction, utility, and oil and gas customers, and third-party MRO services. In Q4 2025, BFS was acquired by Quanta Services, Inc. (NYSE: PWR) as part of an approximately $1.73 billion aggregate acquisition package, providing access to infrastructure-services scale and capital for continued fleet and geographic expansion.
Billings Flying Service firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Billings Flying Service
- Legal name
- Billings Flying Service
- Website
- https://billingsflyingservice.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1983
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 51–100 employees
- Short description
- Billings Flying Service operates the world's largest civilian-owned CH-47D Chinook fleet, providing aerial firefighting, heavy-lift, and CH-47 MRO services to government agencies and commercial operators across the US and internationally. Founded in 1983 and acquired by Quanta Services in Q4 2025.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Billings Flying Service industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Firefighting & Heavy-Lift Helicopter Services
- NAICS
- Nonscheduled Air Transportation (4812), Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881)
- SIC
- Aircraft Parts & Auxiliary Equipment, Nec (3728)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Helicopter Crew Change & Offshore Passenger Transfers (Oil & Gas / Wind) (TLAFACAH)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Humanitarian, Relief & Government Cargo Airlift (THABAEAI), Government, Diplomatic & Military Passenger Charter Operators (THABADAG)
Keywords
Where Billings Flying Service is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Billings
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
Billings Flying Service business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales
Revenue model
- Aerial Firefighting Services: Contract-based aerial firefighting services using CH-47D Chinook helicopters. Contracts include exclusive use agreements with government agencies such as the Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, as well as call-when-needed arrangements with US Forest Service, CAL Fire, and international agencies. Revenue is generated per deployment/contract period.
- Heavy Lift / External Load Operations: Specialized CH-47 heavy lift services for construction, utility, and infrastructure projects. Services include aerial crane operations, precision cargo placement, and materials transport for construction, oil and gas, and disaster relief applications.
- CH-47 MRO and Component Repair Services: Billings Flying Service operates a Boeing-certified MRO facility providing CH-47 maintenance, repair, and overhaul services to internal fleet and external customers including commercial CH-47 operators, the US military, and foreign militaries.
- Government and Military Flight Services: Flight services under contract with government agencies including hoist operations, external loads, search and rescue, logistics, and disaster relief. Also provides crew and equipment transport for seismic land surveys under FAR Part 135 certification.
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
Billings Flying Service product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Billings Flying Service provides contract-based aerial firefighting and heavy-lift helicopter services using the world's largest civilian-owned CH-47D Chinook fleet (12 aircraft), with operations spanning wildfire suppression, construction/oil-and-gas external load work, government and military missions, and disaster relief. The company also operates a Boeing-, FAA Part 145-, and AS9110C-certified MRO facility providing CH-47 component maintenance, repair, and overhaul to internal and third-party customers including the US military and foreign militaries.
Product overview
Billings Flying Service (BFS) is a third-generation family-owned aviation solutions provider founded in 1983, specializing in CH-47D Chinook heavy-lift helicopter operations and comprehensive MRO services. The company's core offering centers on aerial firefighting services using the largest civilian-owned Chinook fleet in the world, operating 12 CH-47D helicopters alongside UH-60A Blackhawk and Bell 206 support aircraft. BFS operates as both a service provider (firefighting, construction, oil & gas, government, disaster relief, and film industry support) and an MRO facility certified by FAA, AS9110, and Boeing for CH-47 component repair and overhaul. In 2025, BFS was acquired by Quanta Services, Inc., expanding into utility and construction markets.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Aerial Firefighting Services Contract-based heavy-lift Chinook helicopter aerial firefighting delivering large volumes of water or retardant to combat wildfires, including internal tank drops (up to 2,500 gallons) and external bucket operations (up to 2,700 gallons), with precision GPS-tracked water delivery and telemetry. Sold to government wildfire management agencies.
- CH-47D Chinook Helitanker Operations Modified CH-47D Chinook configured as a Helitanker with a 2,500-gallon internal tank system, sliding doors for precision water drops, 48-second tank refill time, and 3-second full-load release capability. Sold to government firefighting agencies.
- CH-47 Chinook MRO Services FAA Part 145, AS9110C, and Boeing-certified maintenance, repair, and overhaul facility specializing in CH-47 Chinook components including hydraulics, drivetrain, dynamics, transmissions, actuators, flight controls, and airframe services. Sold to the US military, foreign militaries, and other CH-47 operators.
- Construction Heavy-Lift Helicopter Services FAR Part 133 External Load Operations supporting construction projects with loads up to 26,000 pounds, including rooftop HVAC units, transmission towers, power lines, wind turbines, ski lifts, and general construction materials transport. Sold to construction and utility companies.
- Oil & Gas Helicopter Services Heavy-lift and crew transport operations supporting oil and gas industry including pipeline construction, flare-tip replacement, seismic exploration deployment, and equipment transport as an FAA-approved FAR Part 135 and Part 133 operator. Sold to oil and gas operators.
- Government & Military Flight Services Contract services for government agencies including hoist operations, external loads, search and rescue, logistics, hazmat transport, and disaster relief operations. Sold to military and government agencies.
- Disaster Relief Services Aerial disaster response including hurricane relief, tsunami recovery, oil spill response, search and rescue, and supplies delivery in support of international and domestic disaster relief agencies. Sold to disaster relief organizations.
Quantifiable outcome
- 97% aircraft availability rate in 2025, supported by in-house MRO, multimillion-dollar spares inventory, and 24/7 AOG support
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Billings Flying Service
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments5 records
Ideal customer profiles4 records
Billings Flying Service technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature7 records
Billings Flying Service partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Quanta Services, Inc.coreBillings Flying Service was acquired by Quanta Services, Inc. in Q4 2025 as part of a broader acquisition package worth approximately $1.73 billion that also included Tri-City Group and Wilson Construction Company. The acquisition provides BFS with access to greater resources and long-term stability for growth while continuing the operations that built its reputation. Quanta Services is a leading infrastructure solutions provider with record fiscal 2025 revenues of $28.5 billion and approximately 69,500 employees.
Scale indicators8 records
Recent moves7 records
Expansion highlights6 records
Billings Flying Service competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- PHI Aviation: PHI Aviation is one of the largest helicopter operators in the world, providing crew transport, emergency medical, and energy support. Comparable in oil & gas crew change operations, heavy-lift capabilities, and FAA Part 135/133 certifications, though broader in vertical scope.
- Bristow Group: Bristow Group is a publicly-traded global helicopter services provider focused on offshore energy, search and rescue, and government services. Comparable in commercial helicopter service delivery, government contracts, and global deployment footprint to oil & gas and government segments.
- Columbia Helicopters: Columbia Helicopters is a heavy-lift helicopter operator and OEM running the Model 234 (civil Chinook variant) and Model 107. Direct competitor in heavy-lift external load operations, military support, and aerial logging, with similar FAA Part 133 and Part 135 certifications.
- Erickson Incorporated: Erickson operates the S-64 Skycrane heavy-lift helicopter, a direct competitor to the CH-47D in aerial firefighting and external load operations. Comparable in firefighting bucket capacity, heavy-lift construction, and government contract profile.
- Helitak Firefighting: Helitak is a specialist aerial firefighting equipment manufacturer and operator using helicopters (notably UH-60 Blackhawk variants) for bucket and tank operations. Direct peer in the helicopter aerial firefighting equipment and services market, particularly in Australia.
- Coulson Aviation: Coulson Aviation is a leading global aerial firefighting operator running both fixed-wing tankers (C-130, Boeing 737) and rotary-wing platforms. Most directly comparable peer to BFS in international aerial firefighting contracts, with overlapping government customer base including the US Forest Service and Australian fire agencies.
Broad incumbents
- AAR Corp: AAR Corp is a leading aerospace and defense MRO and supply chain provider. Comparable in FAA Part 145 and AS9110 certified MRO operations, with overlap in military rotary-wing component repair, though significantly larger and more diversified.
- CHC Helicopter: CHC Helicopter is the world's largest offshore helicopter operator and a leading provider of helicopter MRO services. Comparable in helicopter MRO capabilities and global commercial helicopter services, though its primary focus is offshore oil & gas and SAR rather than aerial firefighting.
Others
- Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin): Sikorsky is the OEM of the UH-60 Blackhawk, which BFS operates as part of its fleet. Comparable as the manufacturer of BFS's UH-60A and as a broader industry context for heavy-lift helicopter platforms, though not a direct competitor in firefighting services.
Emerging players
- StandardAero: StandardAero is a major independent aerospace MRO provider with rotary-wing capabilities. Comparable in aircraft component MRO services to BFS's CH-47 MRO facility, though focused on different platforms (Sikorsky, Bell, Leonardo) rather than the CH-47 specifically.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Billings Flying Service social profiles
Digital presenceBillings Flying Service compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance7 records
Billings Flying Service financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Billings Flying Service leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles5 records
Billings Flying Service funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Billings Flying Service M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Billings Flying Service
What does Billings Flying Service do?
Billings Flying Service provides contract-based aerial firefighting and heavy-lift helicopter services using the world's largest civilian-owned CH-47D Chinook fleet (12 aircraft), with operations spanning wildfire suppression, construction/oil-and-gas external load work, government and military missions, and disaster relief. The company also operates a Boeing-, FAA Part 145-, and AS9110C-certified MRO facility providing CH-47 component maintenance, repair, and overhaul to internal and third-party customers including the US military and foreign militaries.
Is Billings Flying Service a public or private company?
Billings Flying Service is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was Billings Flying Service founded?
Billings Flying Service was founded in 1983. It employs 51 to 100 people.
Where is Billings Flying Service based?
Billings Flying Service is headquartered in Billings, United States, in the North America region.
How does Billings Flying Service make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Aerial Firefighting Services are the primary driver. The others are heavy Lift / External Load Operations, CH-47 MRO and Component Repair Services and government and Military Flight Services.
Who are Billings Flying Service's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are PHI Aviation, Bristow Group, Columbia Helicopters, Erickson Incorporated, Helitak Firefighting and Coulson Aviation. Broad incumbents are AAR Corp and CHC Helicopter. Sikorsky (Lockheed Martin) is listed as an others. StandardAero is listed as an emerging player.
Does Billings Flying Service have an API?
No public API is recorded for Billings Flying Service.
What industry is Billings Flying Service in?
Billings Flying Service's product category is Aerial Firefighting & Heavy-Lift Helicopter Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is TLAFACAH, Helicopter Crew Change & Offshore Passenger Transfers (Oil & Gas / Wind), with a secondary code of THABAEAI, Humanitarian, Relief & Government Cargo Airlift. Its NAICS code is 4812 and its SIC code is 3728.