Bridger Aerospace Group (BAER) Sidoti's Year End Virtual Investor Conference summary

Industry trends and market dynamics

• Wildfires are increasing in intensity, duration, and geographic spread, driving demand for aerial firefighting solutions.

• Federal and state agencies are restructuring wildfire management, centralizing under the Department of the Interior for more proactive response.

• Bipartisan support and new executive orders are ensuring stable funding and rapid response standards for wildfire suppression.

• The market for water-scooping aircraft is highly underserved, with significant unmet demand and limited supply.

• Technological advancements in surveillance and early detection are transforming wildfire management.

Operational strategy and asset deployment

• The company has shifted to year-round readiness, optimizing maintenance and crew schedules for rapid deployment nationwide.

• Multi-year exclusive use contracts provide revenue stability, with a focus on maximizing days deployed and geographic reach.

• Record flight hours and expanded state coverage were achieved, even in a below-average fire year.

• Pre-positioning assets and flexible contracts allow for quick response to emerging wildfire threats.

• Logistics and inventory management improvements have minimized downtime and enhanced customer satisfaction.

Fleet growth and technology integration

• The fleet includes six Super Scoopers, with plans to grow to eight or ten, including retrofitted Spanish military aircraft.

• Scarcity of Super Scoopers provides a competitive advantage; new production is limited and backlogged until at least 2029.

• Exploring next-generation platforms, such as retrofitting ATR 72-600 aircraft, to expand capabilities by 2029-2030.

• Integration of advanced sensors and a proprietary software platform enables real-time fire data and live video streaming.

• The company is recognized as the largest owner-operator of Scoopers globally, with unique technology offerings.