Conair Aerial Firefighting
Matt Bradley has a diverse and extensive work experience in the aviation industry. Matt started their career as a Pilot Instructor in the Royal Canadian Air Force (RCAF) in 1987. Matt then served as a CF-18 Combat Ready Element Lead and Military A2 Instructor Pilot in the Canadian Air Force, where they held multiple roles and responsibilities. In 1995, they joined BAE Systems as a Training Director and Qualified Flight Instructor.
In 1997, Bradley transitioned to Skyservice Airlines, where they held various roles such as Check Pilot, Training Instructor, Line Captain, and Manager of Ground Training. During their time at Skyservice Airlines, they played a key role in reengineering processes, implementing satellite communication systems, and saving millions of dollars in fuel consumption.
Bradley joined Count Aviation as a Consultant in 2007, where they provided project management, piloting, facilitation, and instruction services. Matt then moved on to AeroMechanical Services Ltd. in 2008 as the VP of Operations, leading a team responsible for delivering satcom communications contracts to 25 airlines globally.
In 2010, Bradley joined FLYHT as the VP of Business Development, where they designed product strategies and implemented sales and marketing plans to introduce innovative Iridium voice and data solutions to the aviation industry. Matt later served as the President of FLYHT from 2014 to 2015.
Currently, Bradley is the President and CEO of Conair Aerial Firefighting since August 2021, and they previously served as the President and COO of the company. Throughout their career, they have demonstrated strong leadership skills and a proven track record of driving growth and implementing cutting-edge technologies in the aviation industry.
Matt Bradley has a Graduate Certificate in Executive Coaching from Royal Roads University, obtained in 2011. Matt also completed the Canadian Securities Course and Conduct and Practices from the Canadian Securities Institute in 2008. In 1986, they earned a BA in English from the University of Toronto. Prior to that, they attended the Jesuits of Upper Canada Province for Jesuit Novitiate from 1982 to 1984. In 1982, they studied English and Philosophy at the University of Waterloo - St. Jerome's University.
Conair Aerial Firefighting
For over 50 years Conair Group Inc. (Conair) has led the aerial firefighting industry, supporting government agencies with the largest, privately owned, fixed-wing fleet in the world, operating in Canada, the US, Australia and France. A skilled team of 350 professionals equips the company’s 70 aircraft with the latest tools and technology, going above and beyond to ensure aircraft are ready to dispatch when needed to respond to wildfires. With a focus on safety, Conair offers pilots a specialized Training + Tactics Centre, the only one in the world of its kind, providing access to simulators that produce successful missions in real world operations. Conair’s versatile fleet includes Bird Dogs, Land-Based Airtankers and Amphibious Aircraft. The newest airtanker is the Dash 8-400AT, with a 10,000 litre capacity to drop suppressant over diverse geography. The airtanker is converted at Conair's hangars in Abbotsford at a pace of one every 75 days. Offering a depth of resources, Conair provides wildfire agency partners the full advantage of economies of scale when enhancing, modernizing, or outsourcing operational support for their aerial firefighting resources. Conair provides aircraft for purchase, lease or contract, offering specialized services including engineering, flight operations and fleet maintenance related to aerial firefighting. We incorporate four values into everything we do and base all of our corporate decisions and actions on these fundamentals: • Supporting each other • Refining our safety practices • Improving service to our customers • Being accountable for our commitments. Individually and collectively, we are accountable for our performance, the delivery of our commitments and the results delivered to our customers.