Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc.BAER
Bridger Aerospace Group Holdings, Inc. Revenue Disclosure
Revenue Recognition
Aerial firefighting revenues
The Company enters into short, medium and long-term contracts with customers, primarily with government agencies during the firefighting season, to perform aerial firefighting services (fire suppression and aerial surveillance). The Company recognizes revenue under ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers (“ASC 606”).
The majority of the Company’s aerial firefighting contracts have a single performance obligation as the promise to transfer the individual goods or services is not separately identifiable from other promises in the contracts and, therefore, are not distinct. The Company primarily performs the following activities on contracts as part of a stand-ready obligation: (i) providing our aircraft, pilot, and field maintenance personnel necessary to operate the aircraft and (ii) performing the services required on the contract, whether it be fire suppression or aerial surveillance services. The integrated firefighting services that we perform under each contract represent a single performance obligation satisfied over time, as a series of distinct time increments.
Our firefighting contracts generally provide for payment on a day rate basis. Such activities consist of standby and flight time. Standby rates are charged daily when aircraft is available for use at a fire base, awaiting request from the customer for flight deployment. Flight time is charged hourly when the engines of the aircraft are started and stopped upon request of the customer. The amounts billed to the customer are determined based on varying rates applicable to the specific activities performed on a daily basis. Such consideration is allocated to the distinct daily increment it relates to within the contract and therefore, recognized as we perform the daily firefighting services on the contract.
We measure progress in a manner that depicts the performance of transferring control to the customer. As such, we utilize the output method to recognize revenue over time as this depicts the Company’s performance toward complete satisfaction of the performance obligation. As the Company has a right to consideration from customers in an amount that corresponds directly with the value to the customer of the Company’s performance completed to date, the Company has applied the practical expedient to recognize revenue in the amount to which we have the right to invoice. We have elected to exclude from the transaction price all taxes assessed by governmental and foreign authorities.
Maintenance, Repair, and Overhaul (“MRO”) revenues
Maintenance repair revenue consists of maintenance repair and return to service work performed on customer aircraft. The Company commonly contracts with third-parties to perform certain repair and return to service work. The Company considers itself the principal in these arrangements as we control the timing and nature of the services ultimately provided by the third-party to the customer.
Each maintenance contract consists of integrated repair and return to service activities that are highly interdependent, and therefore, represent a single performance obligation. For contracts with multiple performance obligations, the Company allocates the contract’s transaction price to each performance obligation using the best estimate of the standalone selling price of each distinct good or service in the contract. The primary method used to estimate standalone selling price is the expected-cost-plus-margin approach, under which the Company forecasts the expected costs of satisfying a performance obligation and then adds an appropriate margin for that distinct good or service.
The Company satisfies the underlying performance obligations over time as either the customer obtains control or receives benefits as work is performed on the contract, or the products we are building are assets with no alternative use and we have an enforceable right to payment. As a result, under ASC 606, revenue is recognized over time using the cost-to-cost method (cost incurred relative to total estimated cost at completion).
Contract estimates
Actual revenues and project costs may vary from previous estimates due to changes in a variety of factors. The cost estimation process is based upon the professional knowledge and experience of our engineers, project managers, and financial professionals. Factors that are considered in estimating the work to be completed and ultimate contract recovery include the availability and productivity of labor, the nature and complexity of the work to be performed, the availability of materials, and the effect of any delays on our project performance. We periodically review our job performance, job conditions, estimated profitability, and final contract settlements, including our estimate of total costs and make revisions to costs and income in the period in which the revisions are probable and reasonably estimable. We bear the risk of cost overruns in most of our contracts, which may result in reduced profits. Whenever revisions of estimated contract costs and contract values indicate that the contract costs will exceed estimated revenues, thus creating a loss, a provision for the total estimated loss is recorded in that period. Contracts can be modified to account for changes in contract specifications and requirements. Contract modifications are considered to exist when the modification either creates new or changes the existing enforceable rights and obligations. Most of the Company’s contract modifications are for goods or services that are not distinct from the existing contract due to the significant integration service provided in the context of the contract and are accounted for as if they were part of that existing contract. The effect of a contract modification on the transaction price, and the measure of progress for the performance obligation to which it relates, is recognized as an adjustment to revenue (either as an increase in or a reduction of revenue) on a cumulative catch-up basis. Total cumulative catch-up adjustments were not material for the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Other revenues
Other revenues primarily consists of training services and lease revenue when we lease our owned aircraft to third parties, typically on an hourly or daily basis. For the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024, we had other of $4.1 million and $4.9 million, respectively.
Contract assets & liabilities
The timing of revenue recognition, customer billings, and cash collections results in a contract asset or contract liability at the end of each reporting period. For instances where we recognize revenue prior to having an unconditional right to payment, we record a contract asset. When amounts are dependent on factors other than the passage of time in order for payment from a customer to be due, we record a contract asset which consists of costs incurred where revenue recognized over time using the cost-to-cost model exceeds the amounts billed to customers. Contract assets are recorded within Accounts receivable in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Contract liabilities include advance payments and billings in excess of revenue recognized. Contract liabilities are recorded as deferred revenue within Accrued expenses and other current liabilities in the Consolidated Balance Sheets. Certain customers make advance payments prior to the satisfaction of our performance obligations on the contract. These amounts are recorded as contract liabilities until such performance obligations are satisfied over time as costs are incurred. Contract assets and contract liabilities are determined on a contract-by-contract basis.
Payment terms vary by customer and type of revenue contract. The Company generally expects that the period of time between payment and transfer of promised goods or services will be less than one year. In such instances, the Company has elected the practical expedient to not evaluate whether a significant financing component exists.
Net contract (liabilities) assets are as follows:
| As of December 31, | ||||||||||||||||||||
dollars in thousands | 2025 | 2024 | Net Change | |||||||||||||||||
| Contract assets | $ | 2,250 | $ | 1,746 | $ | 505 | ||||||||||||||
| Contract liabilities | 3,434 | 858 | 2,577 | |||||||||||||||||
| Net contract (liabilities) assets | $ | (1,184) | $ | 888 | $ | (2,072) | ||||||||||||||
The receivables balance was $4.1 million, the contract assets and contract liabilities balances were zero, as of January 1, 2024. For the year ended December 31, 2025, the Company recognized revenues of $0.9 million that was previously included in the contract liabilities that existed at December 31, 2024.
Changes in the balances of the Company’s contract assets and liabilities primarily result from timing differences between revenue recognition and customer billings and/or payments. There were no significant impairment losses related to any receivables or contract assets arising from the Company’s contracts with customers during the years ended December 31, 2025 and 2024.
Remaining performance obligations
The Company calculates revenues from remaining performance obligations as the dollar value of the remaining performance obligations on executed contracts. As of December 31, 2025, the Company has remaining unsatisfied performance obligations of $14.0 million, of which approximately 91% is expected to be recognized as revenue within the next twelve months and 9% thereafter.
Contract costs
The Company has not incurred incremental costs for obtaining contracts with customers. In addition, the Company evaluates whether or not it should capitalize the costs of fulfilling a contract. Such costs would be capitalized when they are not within the scope of other standards and: (1) are directly related to a contract; (2) generate or enhance resources that will be used to satisfy performance obligations; and (3) are expected to be recovered. The Company has elected to use the practical expedient detailed in ASC 340-40, Other Assets and Deferred Costs-Contracts with Customers, to expense any costs to fulfill a contract as they are incurred when the amortization period would be one year or less.
Historical Timeline
| Fiscal Year | Filed | |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | Mar 6, 2026 | Showing above |
| 2024 | Mar 14, 2025 | |
About Revenue Disclosures
Revenue disclosures under ASC 606 explain how a company identifies performance obligations, allocates transaction prices, and determines when revenue is recognized. This section is essential for understanding whether reported revenue reflects genuine economic activity or aggressive accounting choices. Analysts examine the mix of point-in-time versus over-time recognition, which directly affects revenue timing and comparability.
Key signals: rising contract liabilities (deferred revenue) suggest strong future revenue visibility, while declining contract assets may indicate slowing project milestones. Watch for variable consideration estimates — rebates, returns, and performance bonuses that require management judgment. Significant changes in disaggregated revenue by geography or product line can reveal shifting business mix before it appears in headline numbers. Compare revenue growth against contract liability growth to assess sustainability, and scrutinize any changes in the timing of recognition that coincide with earnings pressure.