Montana-based Billings Flying Service (BFS) has taken delivery of six Netherlands Defense Ministry surplus Boeing CH-47D Chinook helicopters. The sale was approved by the Netherlands’ Defense Material Sales Committee at the end of 2022 and included associated spare parts and device-specific test equipment. The aircraft are scheduled to arrive in Montana in late summer.
Founded in 1983 as an aerial spraying service, BFS's fleet consists of CH-47D Chinook, UH-60A Blackhawk, and Bell 206 helicopters that support heavy-lift, global firefighting, construction, oil and gas, disaster relief, government, and film and television operations. Nick Nenadovic, BFS president, said the additional helicopters will “significantly enhance our aerial firefighting and heavy lift operations.”
All six CH-47Ds come equipped with glass cockpits, night vision goggle compatibility, and auto hover features. Additional modifications will be performed at BFS’ certified FAA Part 145 and AS9110C MRO facilities, which offer services to support both internal and external customers. BFS’s Boeing-approved CH-47 MRO sustains CH-47s at the depot level and specializes in airframe and component MRO for civilian and military helicopters. It also holds a Honeywell-approved license agreement for the repair and overhaul of Chinook automatic flight controls system (AFCS) components.