Bridger Aerospace Integrates TracPlus FireFlyte Across Fleet

Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. has integrated the TracPlus FireFlyte platform across its entire aerial firefighting fleet to automate mission data capture ahead of the peak 2026 fire season.

Announced on June 30, 2026, in a joint press release, the agreement transitions the operator from manual estimation to automated tracking of drop locations, flight paths, and aircraft performance. The integration aligns the private contractor with data standards currently utilized by major government agencies.

Fleet-wide integration and data capabilities

The FireFlyte software will unify data across Bridger Aerospace’s mixed fleet. This includes six CL-415EAF Super Scooper amphibious Commercial-Aircraft, which can draw up to 1,412 gallons of water per pass. The system will also track the company’s Air Attack and Multi-Mission aircraft, which include Pilatus PC-12, Beechcraft King Air 350, and Daher Kodiak turboprops equipped with imaging and infrared systems.

FireFlyte records mission parameters automatically from the moment an aircraft becomes airborne until it lands. Captured data includes position, time, firefighting mode, and drop lines. The system generates an Aerial Firefighting Report at the source, eliminating the need for post-flight reconstruction.

By bringing all aircraft onto a single operational picture, a CL-415EAF on a suppression run and an Air Attack aircraft providing overhead coordination appear in the same view for pilots, ground coordinators, and agency partners.

“For Bridger, the goal is not just operational awareness, but also continuous improvement. Mission data from FireFlyte allows us to make sure every aircraft, on every fire, is performing at the highest possible level. Fireflyte also enhances our situational awareness so we can increase our focus on safe operations by using data to highlight trends and maintain our high tempo in the field. This visibility gives us the best possible data to perform our mission to protect what matters: lives, property, and the environment,” said Sam Davis, Chief Executive Officer of Bridger Aerospace.

Aligning with government agency standards

The adoption of automated mission recording reflects a broader shift in the aerial firefighting sector. Government entities, including the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (CAL FIRE) and Australia’s national firefighting program, have already mandated complete automated mission records.

TracPlus Global Chief Executive Officer Todd O’Hara, who assumed his role on May 1, 2026, noted that private operators are now adopting the same standards to improve safety and efficiency.

“The industry is shifting toward automated, complete mission records. Agencies like CAL FIRE and Australia’s national program are already there. What’s changing now is that operators are making the same move. Bridger is leading that from the front. By capturing every mission automatically, the same way the major agencies do, they can focus on what they do best; flying the mission and keeping communities safe,” O’Hara said.

AirPro News analysis

We view the integration of automated data capture as a necessary evolution for private aerial firefighting contractors. As federal and state agencies demand higher accountability for contract performance, the ability to prove drop efficacy and sequence tracking becomes a competitive advantage. Bridger Aerospace’s move to unify its CL-415EAF suppression aircraft and its intelligence-gathering turboprops into a single data stream reduces the communication friction between overhead coordination and active drop assets. This level of transparency is likely to become a baseline requirement for future federal firefighting contracts.

Sources: TracPlus