With the technological advancements in recent years, the prospects for aerial firefighting hold significant potential. Groundbreaking developments such as drones equipped with thermal imaging cameras and artificial intelligence algorithms have the potential to transform wildfire detection and response completely. Autonomous firefighting aircraft could offer a faster and safer approach to extinguishing fires, while improved fire-retardant delivery systems aim to improve the accuracy and effectiveness of drops. Ongoing research into advanced materials and designs aims to create more efficient and environmentally friendly aerial firefighting solutions.
The aerial firefighting market ecosystem comprises stakeholders such as helicopter manufacturers, system suppliers, and end users. Many aerial firefighting service providers procure fixed wing and rotary wing aircraft from aircraft manufacturers. Textron Inc., Airbus, Boeing, Lockheed Martin Corporation, Air Tractor Inc., Kaman K-MAX, Leonardo S.p.A., ShinMaywa Industries, and Bombardier Inc. are among the notable aircraft manufacturers. The manufacturers hold a majority stake in the firefighting aircraft industry. The adoption of rotary wing helicopters is more than fixed wing owing to the requirement of high initial investments for the fixed aircraft. The second stakeholder in the aerial firefighting market is system suppliers. Once the aircraft is procured from the aircraft manufacturers, system suppliers provide aerial firefighting systems. The system includes water or foam tanks and pumps. It is then installed on the procured aircraft. Some of the aerial firefighting service provides manufacturers with their firefighting systems.
Aerial firefighting is the usage of fixed and rotary wing aircraft for the suppression of wildfires. In wildfire suppression, air and ground operations are used combinedly to combat wildfires. These operations include various tactics and techniques. Aerial firefighting has a wide range of benefits, including a clear view of wildfire and the safety of the firefighters.
In 2021, the forest fires caused 9.34 million hectares of tree cover loss across the world, which represented ~33% of the overall tree cover loss. In addition, the period of fire seasons across the world continues to extend year by year, which resulted in the overlap of seasons across different regions. According to the NFPA journal, the forecasted expenditure on firefighting owing to the global climate-change-induced forest fires is expected to rise from US$ 2 billion in 2020 to US$ 5 billion–US$ 30 billion annually by 2050. Hence, the growing number of forest fire incidents drives the demand for aerial firefighting services to combat forest fires from further spread. In addition, increased awareness and government initiatives toward forest conservation support the aerial firefighting market growth. Governments of various countries are playing a key role in investments or funding in forest preservation from wildfires. The European Council extended the utilization of funding for firefighting planes and helicopters in November 2023. This will allow EU member states to avail benefit from the European Union financing for leasing aerial firefighting solutions. In addition, in January 2024, the acting Deputy Secretary of the Interior in the US declared to dedicate US$ 138 million to combating forest fires and mitigation.
The number of forest fire instances across the globe is growing owing to climate change and rapid urbanization. According to the World Resources Institute, the rise in tree cover loss associated with wildfires across the globe from 2018 to 2021 is shown in the figure below:
Aerial firefighting is highly preferred when the wildfire site is difficult to approach or faces challenges in gaining access to ground-based firefighting solutions. Aerial firefighting services can reach the highest altitude, whereas ground-based firefighting takes a longer time to reach and can efficiently extinguish the fire from a safe distance. In addition, aerial firefighting solutions provide quick mobilization and efficient fire suppression owing to the quick initial efforts in combating wildfires as compared to conventional ground-based firefighting services.
Key segments that contributed to the derivation of the aerial firefighting market analysis are end use and aircraft type.
The geographic scope of the aerial firefighting market report is mainly segmented into five regions: North America, Asia Pacific, Europe, and the Rest of the World.
In North America, communities face an unrelenting threat of wildfires, scorching communities, displacing residents, and leaving a trail of devastation. Although wildfires are a part of the natural ecosystem, their frequency, intensity, and destructiveness are undeniable. The current system for responding to these fires is simply unreliable, which puts communities at risk and firefighters face insurmountable difficulties.
The rising instances of wildfires in the US, Canada, and Mexico drive the aerial firefighting market in the region from 2023 to 2031. Wildland fire aviation in North America involves a variety of aircraft and mission planning. Helicopters are primarily used for dropping huge volumes of water, crew transport, reconnaissance, infrared surveillance, and resource delivery to the fire line. Fixed wing aircraft include smokejumper transport aircraft, tactical air platforms, single-engine air tankers (SEATs), large tankers, and large transport aircraft. All aircraft, whether fixed wing or rotary wing, play a critical role in supporting firefighters on the ground. Currently, Erickson, Coulson, and others operate helicopters and fixed-wing aircraft in North America. Key players operating in the North America aerial firefighting market include Coulson Aviation (USA) Inc., Conair Group Inc., Neptune Aviation Services Inc., 10 Tanker, Erickson Inc, Billings Flying Service, and Dauntless Air Inc.
According to the National Interagency Fire Center (NIFC), the US experienced 66,255 firebreaks in total in 2022, which burned nearly 7.53 million acres of wildland. Texas registered the highest number of wildfires, while Alaska accounted for the largest area (acres) burned in the US in 2022. The country has been experiencing an upsurge in wildfire outbreaks from 58,950 to 68,988, which increased the focus on reducing wildfire spread. Thus, a rise in the incidences of forest fires fuels the demand for aerial firefighting solutions in the US to combat fires in their early stages.
The aerial firefighting market is evaluated by gathering qualitative and quantitative data post primary and secondary research, which includes important corporate publications, association data, and databases. The following is a list of developments in the market for aerial firefighting and strategies:
The regional trends and factors influencing the Aerial Firefighting Market throughout the forecast period have been thoroughly explained by the analysts at Insight Partners. This section also discusses Aerial Firefighting Market segments and geography across North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and Africa, and South and Central America.
| Report Attribute | Details |
|---|---|
| Market size in 2022 | US$ 1,043.22 Million |
| Market Size by 2030 | US$ 1,657.47 Million |
| Global CAGR (2022 - 2030) | 6.0% |
| Historical Data | 2021-2022 |
| Forecast period | 2024-2031 |
| Segments Covered |
By End Use
|
| Regions and Countries Covered | North America
|
| Market leaders and key company profiles |
The Aerial Firefighting Market market is growing rapidly, driven by increasing end-user demand due to factors such as evolving consumer preferences, technological advancements, and greater awareness of the product's benefits. As demand rises, businesses are expanding their offerings, innovating to meet consumer needs, and capitalizing on emerging trends, which further fuels market growth.
Market players density refers to the distribution of firms or companies operating within a particular market or industry. It indicates how many competitors (market players) are present in a given market space relative to its size or total market value.
Major Companies operating in the Aerial Firefighting Market are:
Disclaimer: The companies listed above are not ranked in any particular order.
The “Aerial Firefighting Market Size and Forecast (2022–2030)” report provides a detailed analysis of the market covering below areas:
The List of Companies - Aerial Firefighting Market
Across North America, communities face an unrelenting threat of wildfires, scorching communities, displacing residents, and leaving a trail of devastation. Although wildfires are a part of the natural ecosystem, their frequency, intensity, and destructiveness is undeniable. The current system for responding to these fires is simply not keeping up, putting communities at risk and firefighters facing insurmountable difficulties.
The number of forest fire instances across the globe is growing owing to climate change and rapid urbanization. In 2021, the forest fires caused 9.34 million hectares of tree cover loss globally, which represented ~33% of the overall tree cover loss. In addition, the period of fire seasons across the world continues to extend year by year, which resulted in the overlap of seasons across different regions.
Aerial firefighting is used more effectively when the wildfire site is difficult to approach or faces challenges in gaining access to ground-based firefighting solutions. Aerial firefighting services can reach the highest altitude, whereas ground-based firefighting takes a longer time to reach and can efficiently extinguish the fire from a safe distance. In addition, aerial firefighting solutions provide quick mobilization and efficient fire suppression owing to the quick initial efforts in combating wildfires as compared to conventional ground-based firefighting services.
Coulson Aviation, Conair Fire Aviation, Neptune Aviation, 10 Tanker Air Carrier, Erickson Aero Tanker, Billings Flying Services, Dauntless Air Inc., Avincis, Kishugu Aviation, and Babcock International Plc are the key market players operating in the global aerial firefighting market.