AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting
Aero-Flite is a US aerial firefighting company founded in 1963, operating a fleet of 14+ specialized aircraft (CL-415 amphibious scoopers, RJ85, and Dash 8-400AT airtankers) to provide wildfire suppression and aerial firefighting services exclusively to US federal and state government agencies under Exclusive-Use and Call-When-Needed contracts.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1963
- HeadquartersSpokane, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting does
Aero-Flite, Inc. is a US-based aerial firefighting company founded in 1963 and headquartered at Spokane International Airport, Washington, where it operates from a nearly 75,000 sq ft administrative, maintenance, and flight operations complex. The company is a division of the Canadian-based Conair Group, a diversified aviation and firefighting conglomerate. Aero-Flite maintains a fleet of 14+ purpose-built and engineered firefighting aircraft across three platforms: four Canadair CL-415 amphibious water scoopers (1,621-gallon water payload, capable of scooping from lakes/rivers), seven Avro RJ85 four-engine land-based airtankers (3,000-gallon retardant capacity, 300+ knot cruise), and three De Havilland Dash 8-400AT Type 2 airtankers (2,642-gallon capacity, fuel-efficient, 5,000-foot runway capability). Maintenance is performed under an FAA Part 145 Repair Station certificate, and flight operations are conducted under 14 CFR Part 137. Approximately 250 employees support operations, including 65+ pilots who receive annual training exceeding FAA requirements.
Aero-Flite generates revenue exclusively through direct government contracting with US federal and state agencies, providing aircraft and operational support under Exclusive-Use and Call-When-Needed (CWN) contract models. Named customers include the U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, Alaska Fire Service, Cal Fire, Washington State Department of Natural Resources, and Texas and Oklahoma fire agencies, with services spanning initial attack, extended attack, and large-scale wildfire suppression missions across the lower 48 states and Alaska. A second 45,000 sq ft hangar opened at Chico, California in March 2024 to support Cal Fire's regional tanker base, and a planned $35M, 100,000 sq ft Spokane facility is under development to accommodate up to 20 large airtankers. The company pursues continuous fleet modernization, with additional Dash 8-400AT airtankers expected through 2026.
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting
- Legal name
- Aero-Flite Inc.
- Website
- https://aerofliteinc.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1963
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- Aero-Flite is a US aerial firefighting company founded in 1963, operating a fleet of 14+ specialized aircraft (CL-415 amphibious scoopers, RJ85, and Dash 8-400AT airtankers) to provide wildfire suppression and aerial firefighting services exclusively to US federal and state government agencies under Exclusive-Use and Call-When-Needed contracts.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Aerial Firefighting Services
- NAICS
- Air Transportation (481)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Firebreak & Defensible Space Construction (AFAMAEAF)
Keywords
Where AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Spokane
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices2 records
Markets served
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting 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
- Government Air Tanker Contracts: Aero-Flite provides aircraft and operational support for Exclusive-Use and Call When Needed (CWN) contracted services for federal and state agencies. Services include CL-415 Scooper, Dash 8-400AT and Avro RJ85 Airtanker aircraft operations supporting wildfire suppression missions.
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels7 records
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Aero-Flite provides contracted aerial firefighting services for federal and state agencies, operating a fleet of over 15 purpose-built firefighting aircraft (CL-415 amphibious water scoopers, Dash 8-400AT land-based airtankers, and Avro RJ85 land-based airtankers) under Exclusive-Use and Call When Needed (CWN) contracts. The company delivers initial attack and extended suppression missions supporting wildfire agencies across the United States, with comprehensive pilot training and FAA-certified maintenance programs.
Product overview
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting operates a fleet of purpose-built aerial firefighting aircraft providing wildfire suppression and air support services across the United States and Canada. The company offers a portfolio of three aircraft types: CL-415 amphibious water scoopers capable of scooping water from natural sources, combined with Dash 8-400AT and Avro RJ85 land-based airtankers that deliver retardant from tanker bases. The fleet consists of 4 CL-415s, 3 Dash 8-400ATs (Type 2), and 7 RJ85s (Type 1), totaling 14+ aircraft. Services include Exclusive-Use and Call When Needed (CWN) contracted firefighting missions, supported by comprehensive pilot training programs and simulator training.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- CL-415 Amphibious Airtanker
- Avro RJ85 AT Airtanker
- Dash 8-400AT Airtanker
- Aerial Firefighting Training Services
Quantifiable outcome
- Supports all 48 states and Alaska with year-round firefighting operations
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature3 records
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- U.S. Department of Agriculture (U.S. Forest Service)corePrimary federal agency customer providing aerial firefighting contracts and mission authorization for wildfire suppression operations across federal lands.
- U.S. Department of the Interior (Bureau of Land Management)coreFederal partner for wildland fire management and suppression operations on BLM-managed lands.
- Federal Aviation AdministrationcoreRegulatory body providing FAA Authorized Flight Operations Certificate under 14 CFR Part 137 and FAA Part 145 Repair Station certification.
- State of California (Cal Fire)coreState agency customer operating Cal Fire air tanker base in Chico, California where Aero-Flite maintains hangar facility.
- Washington State Department of Natural ResourcescoreState agency customer with four-year contract for Dash 8-400AT airtanker services.
- Spokane Airport AuthoritycorePartner providing hangar and operational facilities at Spokane International Airport headquarters location.
- Alaska Fire ServiceminorFederal fire management operations in Alaska where Aero-Flite deploys aircraft for wildfire suppression.
Scale indicators5 records
Recent moves9 records
Expansion highlights5 records
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Dynamic Aviation: Dynamic Aviation Group provides specialized aerial services including firefighting, ISR, and atmospheric research using a large fleet of King Air and other platforms. Comparable as a US-based operator with government fire management contracts and similar specialized aviation services business model.
- Dauntless Air: Dauntless Air is a Florida-based aerial firefighting operator providing CL-215/CL-415 water scooper services and other aviation assets to federal and state agencies. Comparable to Aero-Flite's CL-415 scooper operations and customer base, particularly for Southeastern US wildfire response.
- Minden Air Corporation: Minden Air Corporation is a Minden, Nevada-based aerial firefighting operator with a long history of USFS and state agency contracts. Directly comparable as a smaller but established fixed-wing aerial firefighting operator serving overlapping federal/state customers.
- Erickson Aero Tanker: Erickson operates a fleet of heavy-lift helicopters and converted airtankers for wildfire suppression and utility missions. Comparable as a US-based aerial firefighting operator competing for the same federal/state contracts, though Erickson focuses more on helicopter platforms versus Aero-Flite's fixed-wing fleet.
- Bridger Aerospace: Bridger Aerospace is a US-based aerial firefighting operator providing fixed-wing airtanker services to federal and state agencies. Directly comparable to Aero-Flite in mission, customer base, and contract structure — recently went public, providing a useful valuation benchmark for the niche. Aero-Flite's Director of Training (Rob Dewar) was previously Bridger's VP of Flight Operations.
- Coulson Aviation: Coulson Aviation is a global aerial firefighting company operating a mixed fleet of fixed-wing airtankers and helicopters across the US, Canada, Australia, and other international markets. Directly comparable to Aero-Flite in service offering and customer type; Coulson is among the largest competitors for next-generation airtanker contracts including with the USFS.
- 10 Tanker Air Carrier: 10 Tanker Air Carrier operates a fleet of converted BAe 146 / Boeing 747 large airtankers for US wildfire suppression under USFS Exclusive-Use and CWN contracts. Directly comparable in mission and customer base, competing head-to-head with Aero-Flite for federal and state retardant delivery contracts.
- Neptune Aviation Services: Neptune Aviation Services is a Missoula, Montana-based aerial firefighting company operating BAe 146 Type 1 airtankers and P2V water scoopers under USFS contracts. Directly comparable to Aero-Flite as one of the legacy US aerial firefighting operators with a multi-decade track record and similar federal contract mix.
Emerging players
- Pacific Aerial Surveys / Helitak Firefighting: Helitak Firefighting is an Australian aerial firefighting operator using helicopter-based retardant delivery systems for wildfire suppression. Not a direct US competitor but a relevant adjacent peer operating in the same niche globally; useful as a benchmark for international aerial firefighting business models and growth trajectories.
Others
- Conair Aviation: Conair Aviation is the sister Canadian division of Conair Group (Aero-Flite's parent), operating a fleet of CL-215/CL-415/CL-415EAF water scoopers and other airtankers primarily in Canada. Same parent, same business model, but operates in a different geography; included for completeness as the most directly comparable operationally, with potential cross-border crew/aircraft sharing.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting social profiles
Digital presenceAeroFlite Aerial Firefighting compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance2 records
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles15 records
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting 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 AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting
What does AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting do?
Aero-Flite provides contracted aerial firefighting services for federal and state agencies, operating a fleet of over 15 purpose-built firefighting aircraft (CL-415 amphibious water scoopers, Dash 8-400AT land-based airtankers, and Avro RJ85 land-based airtankers) under Exclusive-Use and Call When Needed (CWN) contracts. The company delivers initial attack and extended suppression missions supporting wildfire agencies across the United States, with comprehensive pilot training and FAA-certified maintenance programs.
Is AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting a public or private company?
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting is a private company. It is classified as corporate owned and is currently operating.
When was AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting founded?
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting was founded in 1963. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting based?
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting is headquartered in Spokane, United States, in the North America region.
How does AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting make money?
One revenue line is on record: government Air Tanker Contracts.
Who are AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Dynamic Aviation, Dauntless Air, Minden Air Corporation, Erickson Aero Tanker, Bridger Aerospace, Coulson Aviation, 10 Tanker Air Carrier and Neptune Aviation Services. Pacific Aerial Surveys / Helitak Firefighting is listed as an emerging player. Conair Aviation is listed as an others.
Does AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting have an API?
No public API is recorded for AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting.
What industry is AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting in?
AeroFlite Aerial Firefighting's product category is Aerial Firefighting Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is AFAMAEAF, Firebreak & Defensible Space Construction. Its NAICS code is 481.