What Forest Protection does

Forest Protection Limited (FPL) is a government-owned crown corporation headquartered at Fredericton International Airport in Lincoln, New Brunswick, specializing in aerial wildfire suppression and forest management services. Founded in 1961, FPL has operated under a formalized partnership with the Province of New Brunswick since 1975, providing continuous aerial firefighting capacity across the province. The company serves provincial government agencies as its primary customers, including long-standing contracts with New Brunswick and a new seasonal contract with Nova Scotia starting in 2026, alongside project-based deployments in Ontario, Newfoundland and Labrador, Alberta, and Manitoba for interprovincial wildfire support and forest pest management.

FPL's operational capability rests on an integrated fleet of specialized aircraft: Air Tractor AT-802 wheeled air tankers serving as the primary suppression platform (each with 820-gallon capacity), four AT-802 Fire Boss amphibious variants offering 20-30 second water scooping reload times, three Cessna C208 Caravans (including sustainable aviation fuel-powered units), and six Piper PA-60 Aerostars for patrol and Bird Dog command-and-control roles. The company operates from 11 aerial suppression reload bases across New Brunswick, maintains Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO) certification (held since 2006), and supports a maintenance team with 215+ years of combined experience. Beyond suppression, FPL delivers aerial forestry treatment applications including spruce budworm early intervention programs, using AgNav technology for precision coordination. The company reports a 99% flight dispatch record and has reduced average annual burned area in New Brunswick from 12,000 to under 500 hectares.

FPL's business model operates exclusively through direct government service contracts. Revenue is derived from providing aircraft, pilots, operational staff, and maintenance under long-term provincial procurement agreements rather than commercial channels. Disclosed contracts include a $6.5 million Nova Scotia seasonal contract for 2026, $3 million in New Brunswick investment for Fire Boss aircraft, and $40 million in federal-provincial funding over four years for wildfire preparedness. As a crown entity, FPL has no external investors or venture backing; capital expansion is funded through government-directed investments. Customer acquisition occurs through formalized government procurement processes and event-driven interprovincial deployments that build credibility for future contracting.

Name

Forest Protection

Legal name

Forest Protection Limited

Website

https://forestprotectionlimited.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1961

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Forest Protection Limited is a New Brunswick government-owned crown corporation providing aerial wildfire suppression and forest management services to provincial governments across Atlantic Canada using a specialized fleet of AT-802 air tankers, Fire Boss amphibians, and Cessna Caravans.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Aerial Firefighting Services

NAICS

Support Activities for Forestry (115310)

SIC

Forestry (800)

akta.pro primary industry

Wildfire Risk Assessment, Prevention & Suppression Services (IMAMAJAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Forest Fire Management & Fuels Reduction Services (IMAMAAAH), Forest Health Management (Pest, Disease & Invasive Species Control) (AFAMAAAE)

Keywords

• Aerial wildfire suppression
• Forest management services
• Aerial firefighting operations
• Forest pest control
• Government aviation services

Headquarters

HQ city

Fredericton

HQ country

Canada

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Government Service Contracts: FPL operates primarily through long-term service contracts with provincial governments. New Brunswick partnership formalized in 1975 for continuous aerial wildfire operations. Nova Scotia contract for $6.5 million (2026) for seasonal wildfire suppression services. Revenue is derived from providing aircraft, pilots, operational staff, and maintenance for government wildfire response.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Forest Protection Limited provides aerial wildfire suppression and forest management services to provincial governments using a specialized fleet of aircraft, including Air Tractor AT-802 air tankers (wheeled and Fire Boss amphibious variants), Cessna C208 Caravans, and Piper PA-60 Aerostars. Service offerings include coordinated aerial firefighting with Bird Dog command aircraft, spruce budworm early-intervention aerial treatment, and precision forestry vegetation management applications, supported by 11 aerial suppression reload bases across New Brunswick and an in-house Approved Maintenance Organization (AMO).

Product overview

Forest Protection Limited (FPL) operates as an aerial firefighting and forestry management company offering an integrated fleet of specialized aircraft for wildfire suppression and forest health services. The core product portfolio includes three aircraft platforms: the Air Tractor AT-802 (available in wheeled and Fire Boss amphibious variants) serving as the primary air tanker for fire suppression; the Cessna C208 Caravan used for patrol and Bird Dog coordination roles; and Piper PA-60 Aerostars for additional aerial operations. FPL delivers services including aerial wildfire suppression with coordinated team operations (Bird Dog, air tankers, shadow aircraft), spruce budworm early intervention treatment using aerial pesticide application, and general forestry treatment applications. The company partners with provincial governments (primarily New Brunswick and Nova Scotia) and operates from strategic reload bases across provinces, providing rapid initial attack response and sustained wildfire management. The fleet operates under a government-owned model with over 70 years of partnership with the Province of New Brunswick.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Air Tractor AT-802 Air Tanker (Wheeled) The world's largest single-engine air tanker featuring an 820-gallon tank for fire suppression, equipped with water, foam, or long-term retardant delivery systems. Operates from wheeled landing gear for rapid deployment. Used by FPL as the primary air tanker for provincial wildfire suppression contracts.
• AT-802 Fire Boss (Amphibious) Specialized amphibious airtanker variant of the AT-802 with scooping capability for sustained wildfire attack. Can scoop water from lakes or rivers and reload in 20-30 seconds, offering reduced turnaround time and improved mission efficiency in high-tempo or remote fire zones.
• Cessna C208 Caravan Turboprop aircraft powered by sustainable aviation fuel (JET A & SAF) used for patrol, reconnaissance, and Bird Dog coordination roles. Supports aerial management operations across eastern Canada.
• Piper PA-60 Aerostar Aircraft used in FPL's fleet for wildfire management operations including patrol missions and aerial coordination.
• Aerial Wildfire Suppression Services Coordinated aerial firefighting operations including Bird Dog command-and-control aircraft, multiple air tankers, and shadow aircraft, supported by dedicated maintenance crews and ground support staff for rapid wildfire containment. Provided to provincial governments under long-term service contracts.
• Spruce Budworm Early Intervention Treatment Aerial application of eco-friendly pesticides and biological control methods for spruce budworm pest infestation control, protecting Acadian forests and preventing defoliation across New Brunswick and Ontario. Delivered to the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry, treating over 300,000 hectares across northern Ontario.
• Bird Dog Operations Aerial command-and-control service where specialized aircraft coordinate and direct airtanker drops, assess fire behavior and terrain, and communicate with ground crews in real-time during wildfire suppression operations.
• Forestry Treatment Applications Precision aerial application services using specialized aircraft equipped with calibrated dispersal systems for forestry treatment, vegetation management, and pest control across vast forested areas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Reduced average annual hectares burned from 12,000 to <500 hectares
• +4 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, minor and major.

• Government of Nova ScotiacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 21 May 2026$6.5 million seasonal contract (2026) for four AT-802 turboprop air tankers and one Cessna Caravan. Covers housing, maintaining aircraft, pilots and operational staff. First full season supporting Nova Scotia wildfire response.
• Government of New BrunswickcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 19 May 2026Long-standing government partnership dating back to 1975 (50+ years). FPL is a government-owned company providing aerial surveys and wildfire fighting services. New Brunswick invested $3 million for Fire Boss aircraft and $6.7 million for forest ranger expansion. FPL provides dedicated in-province aerial firefighting capacity under government contract.
• Harvey Fire DepartmentminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 31 August 2023Collaborative interdepartmental outreach training program focused on coordination between ground crews and aerial support, dispatch procedures, aerial firefighting strategies, and safety demonstrations.
• Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources and ForestrymajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2023Early intervention strategy partnership to fight spruce budworm outbreak spread. FPL coordinated aerial treatment application across 300,000+ hectares over 63,000 square kilometres of northern Ontario. 46 FPL personnel deployed with 21 aircraft.
• Clayton Air ServicemajorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2023Aerial treatment application partner for Ontario spruce budworm project. Combined with FPL and MNRF expertise to execute the program treating over 300,000 hectares.
• Valent BioSciencesminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 10 August 2023Partner supporting Ontario spruce budworm early intervention program with forest health solutions.
• Eagles WingsminorOthers · 8 August 2023Community youth education initiative to engage young people in understanding forest management and wildfire prevention.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Conair Group: Canada's largest privately-held aerial firefighting company operating a mixed fleet of air tankers and Bird Dog aircraft. Direct competitor to FPL in providing contracted aerial wildfire suppression to provincial governments across Canada.
• Great Slave Helicopters: Northern Canadian helicopter operator providing aerial firefighting, forestry, and resource management services to government clients. Comparable in offering contracted aerial wildfire suppression services across provincial jurisdictions.
• VIH Aviation Group: One of the largest helicopter operators in Canada providing aerial firefighting, medevac, and utility services. Comparable as a contracted provider of aerial wildfire response to provincial governments.
• Summit Helicopters: Western Canadian helicopter operator with significant aerial firefighting and forestry services contracts. Competes for the same provincial government aerial wildfire suppression mandates as FPL.
• Buffalo Airways: Northern Canadian aerial operator providing firefighting and air tanker services using DC-3, DC-4, Electra, and L-188 platforms. Comparable in providing specialized aerial firefighting on contract to provincial and territorial governments.
• Coulson Aviation: BC-based global aerial firefighting operator with a large fleet including Boeing 737 air tankers, helicopters, and the HARVEST HERC airtanker. Competes directly with FPL for provincial aerial firefighting contracts and inter-provincial surge deployments.

Broad incumbents

• Bridger Aerospace: US-listed aerial firefighting operator with a large fleet of CL-415 and AT-802 air tankers. Comparable in offering large-scale contracted aerial wildfire suppression, though focused primarily on the US market with overlap in North American response.

Others

• Valent BioSciences: Biorational product company that partnered with FPL on the Ontario spruce budworm early intervention program. Comparable as an ecosystem partner in aerial forest health treatment, though not a direct competitor.

Regional players

• Phoenix Heli-Flight: Manitoba-based helicopter operator providing aerial firefighting, utility, and forestry services across the prairies. Comparable offering and contract structure but operating in a different geographic market than FPL.
• Nor-Alta Aviation: Alberta-based aerial services company providing air tanker and firefighting services primarily in western Canada. Comparable in service offering but operates in a different regional market than FPL's Atlantic Canada base.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/forest-protection-limited
• Instagraminstagram.com/forest_protection_limited

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Forest Protection