Billings Flying Service
| Founded | 1983 |
|---|---|
| Parent company | Quanta Services, Inc. |
| Headquarters | Billings, Montana |
| Employees | Over 200 |
| Website | Official website |
Billings Flying Service (BFS) is an aviation company located in Billings, Montana, United States.[1] The company specializes in aerial firefighting and is well-known for having the largest civilian-owned fleet of Boeing CH-47 Chinooks in the world.[2]
History
In 1983, BFS was founded by Al and Gary Blain.
In 1997, BFS formally entered the aerial fire-fighting market after winning a call-when-needed contract with the United States Forest Service.[3]
After the 2000–01 fires in the Western United States, Al and Gary shifted to aerial firefighting and purchased two additional UH-1 helicopters.[3]
In 2013, BFS acquired their first CH-47D Chinook, becoming the first civilian operator of the Chinook.[1]
On 14 June 2023, BFS took delivery of 6 ex-Royal Netherlands Air Force Chinooks.[4]
On December 9, 2025, BFS announced it had been acquired by Quanta Services, Inc..[5]
Fleet
| Aircraft | Number | Variants | Notes | Ref(s) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| CH-47 Chinook | 12 | All 'D' variants | [1] | |
| UH-60 Blackhawk | 1 | All 'A' variants | [1] | |
| Pilatus PC-12 | 2 | [1] |
References
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "What We Do". Billings Flying Service. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ↑ "Billings Flying Service". Billings Flying Service. Retrieved 12 February 2026.
- ↑ 3.0 3.1 "40 Years of Family Tradition – Billings Flying Service". Aerial Fire Magazine. 8 January 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
- ↑ "Billings Flying Service takes delivery of 6 CH-47D Chinooks". Vertical Magazine. 14 June 2023. Retrieved 17 February 2026.
- ↑ "Billings Flying Service joins Quanta Services family of businesses". Vertical Magazine. 9 December 2025. Retrieved 19 February 2026.
Category:Aerial firefighting Category:Aviation companies Category:Companies based in Montana
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