Republican Senator Tim Sheehy from Montana advocated for removing strict airworthiness inspections imposed by federal agencies on private planes and helicopters used in fighting forest fires. This proposal sparked a direct controversy involving Bridger Aerospace, the firefighting aviation company Sheehy founded before entering politics.
Sheehy’s plan aimed to enable private planes and helicopters to respond faster to fires by eliminating the detailed inspections conducted by the US Forest Service on these aircraft. The Forest Service conducts comprehensive checks before declaring firefighting planes airworthy.
According to documents and former officials, at the time this proposal was made, a plane owned by Bridger Aerospace failed inspection. The review revealed a crack on the wing, which was exactly the type of issue the inspection system Sheehy wanted to remove was designed to detect.
Records related to the company show that Forest Service inspectors have identified problems with Bridger’s planes for years. Some of these findings were censored by the agency, but sources indicated that the company presented some aircraft as ready for firefighting while they actually required maintenance and repairs.
Bridger Aerospace did not respond to questions about the failed inspection; however, in a statement, the company said safety is a core principle and that it allocates a large budget for maintenance. The statement also noted that annual maintenance and training expenses reach tens of millions of dollars.
National Transportation Safety Board records show that planes owned by the company have not been involved in any accidents to date. However, Forest Service officials remind that inspections in this area were strengthened following serious accidents years ago.
In two separate plane crashes in 2002, a total of five people lost their lives. It was later determined that the cause of these accidents was undetected cracks in the wings. The Forest Service argues that the current inspection program was established to detect such risks early.
Sheehy’s office did not respond to interview requests. However, it was reported that the senator believes Forest Service inspections for firefighting aircraft are excessively stringent and that these practices now create unnecessary obstacles.
According to Sheehy’s statements, he later transferred his holdings in his company to blind trusts. The senator’s spokesperson claimed this does not constitute a conflict of interest and that they continue to oppose the inspections.
Another notable point in the case is Sheehy’s involvement in the founding board of the United Aerial Firefighters Association. Established in 2022, this industry group reportedly advocates for companies to develop their own inspection standards.
Former and current Forest Service officials said it is common for companies to complain about inspections, but Bridger’s central role in a regulatory debate influenced by a senator makes the situation unique. The Department of Agriculture did not respond to questions on the matter.
Last year, President Donald Trump signed an executive order proposing the consolidation of firefighting programs under a single authority. This approach aligns with the long-standing position of Sheehy and some industry circles, but Forest Service inspections were not eliminated by the order.
