ADVANCED
TECHNOLOGY
FOR AERIAL
FIREFIGHTING

AI-DRIVEN

MUCH SAFER AND MORE ACCURATE

WIN MORE WORK.
MAKE IT HOME.

Everybody knows that aerial firefighting  is not a risk-free occupation. Too many aircrew are killed every year, at their “workplace”. Aerial firefighting airplanes lack the latest advanced technology, which could make it safer for the pilot, and more accurate for the end customers (governments). 

So, we are introducing TruePASS™ in 2024, to get drops on time, on target, every time, and then safely home too. 

Our leadership team Are Industry leaders who are delivering the new reality

Our Team's Experience

Michael Read

Founder

Michael Read

Founder

Serial entrepreneur with a unique strengths in operational execution. Current Civil Aviation Approved Test Pilot, previously: founded Skybase, DroneTRUST, VP Sales at Martin Aircraft, decorated veteran pilot for Royal Australian Air Force. Bachelor Science and ATPL.

David McBride

Global Head of Projects

David McBride

Global Head of Projects

Most recent director of NASA Armstrong Flight Research Centre, with over forty years of experience in strategic and operational leadership and groundbreaking technology research and development.

Eric Stierna

Chief Test Pilot & Head of Design

Eric Stierna

Chief Test Pilot & Head of Design

Former US Army helicopter pilot, with a Masters of Software Engineering and Bachelors of Materials Engineering, then qualified through the US Navy Test Pilot’s School. UAV flight test, became a Lieutenant Colonel. Lives in New Zealand.

Ray Chaney

Director Fire & Ops

Ray Chaney

Director Fire & Ops

Former Battalion Chief, Incident Commander and Fire Chief of CALFIRE,  and was awarded the Medal of Valour. Current Director of Emergency Services 211 in San Diego. Extensive aerial firefighting experience in Air Attack (Bronco).

Teresa Schuster

Head of Avionics

Teresa Schuster

Head of Avionics

Previously Senior Systems Engineer and Avionics Engineer at COLSA, with extensive avionics experience at Lockheed Martin (F22 and JSF flight controls), L3Martin Aircraft and Archer Aviation. She has bachelors and Masters degrees.

Mark Zaller

Global Business Development

Mark Zaller

Global Business Development

Previously global business development at 3Com and Hewlett Packard, and then CTO/BD of SkyIMD before becoming CTO/BD for Courtney Aviation (aerial firefighting), responsible for turning both businesses into very successful enterprises.

Wes Hall

Head of Integration

Wes Hall

Head of Integration

Exited his UAV business (Yield Defender) by selling to Air Tractor, and has worked for Lockheed MartinNorthpoint, Boeing. He has multiple degrees and is also a Licenced Aircraft Engineer (Airframe & Powerplant).

Connor Wilson

Flight Test Engineer

Connor Wilson

Flight Test Engineer

Connor is a graduate of the Empire Test Pilot’s School as a Flight Test Engineer. He has served with the Royal Australian Air Force for 15 years, has a Bachelor of Engineering and Masters of Flight Test Engineering. He has been instrumental in Beyond Flight’s notable successes in the Firetech trials in Australia.

Brendan Buell

Flight Test Engineer

Brendan Buell

Flight Test Engineer

Previously Royal Australian Air Force, with Masters of Flight Test Engineering from USAF Test Pilot School and experience with F16 UAVs, Boeing Loyal Wingman and conventional flight test programs, Bachelor of Engineering with hands-on technical skills. Joined in 2020.

Chris Burton

Head of Quality & Maintenance

Chris Burton

Head of Quality & Maintenance

Previously certifying engineer at Air New Zealand, and Royal New Zealand Air Force. Has a Certificate of Inspection Authorisation, and is a Quality Systems lead (including Safety Systems). Owns a large maintenance business. He is also a qualified private pilot.

Maëlle Branco

System and Software Engineer

Maëlle Branco

System and Software Engineer

With 3 Masters Degrees (Electrical, Electronic Systems, Aircraft & Helicopter Engineering) and having studied Advanced UAV systems with the French Air Force, she contracted to Safran and Cloud Sat, before joining full time in 2020. She has returned to France to work remotely.

Pascal Kootstra

Human Factors Specialist

Pascal Kootstra

Human Factors Specialist

Previously senior safety manager at Air New Zealand, Risk Manager for Deloitte, Human factors at Aurecon, bachelor of Psychology and qualified in Product Design and Engineering. Specialised in cockpit human factors interfaces and critical infrastructure safety.

Sean D. Tucker

Brand Ambassador

Sean D. Tucker

Brand Ambassador

World famous aerobatics and display pilot, former Oracle and AWS demonstration team owner, “national living treasure” and in the Smithsonian see wikipedia page.

Mark Bathrick

Advisor

Mark Bathrick

Advisor

Former Director Aviation for US DOI, including a core focus in the Wildland Fire Department, and former USN F14 Top Gun and Test Pilot and multiple-Commanding Officer (Naval Weapons Test Squadron, Naval Air Engineering Station, Navy Carrier Squadron).

Chris Bley

Advisor

Chris Bley

Advisor

Multi-exited founder, first with InspecTools (acquired by PrecisionHawk) and then Rope Partner (acquired by Magnesium Capital). He has since founded new companies, Airspace Integration, InsightUp Solutions and the Monterey Bay DART organisation, each focused on different aspects of uncrewed aircraft technology integration.

Peter McKay

Advisor (Aus)

Peter McKay

Advisor (Aus)

CEO and owner of Field Air, Air Tractor’s Asia Pacific dealership since 1978 and service entity, also providing extensive operational services in aerial firefighting, and aerial agriculture. Highly experienced in strategic and operational leadership.

Current Mission

To END DESTRUCTIVE WILDFIRES
BY 2030

Beyond Flight believes that  the quickest way to End Destructive Wildfires by 2030 is to upgrade aerial firefighting airplanes with Advanced Technology (AI). 

While new airplanes and new drones might be exciting, the reality of aviation timelines mean that by upgrading their existing airplanes, they get a faster ROI on their assets, and aerial firefighting becomes more effective.

The problem

The big problem our customers face is that their assets are under-optimised during the day (safety and accuracy) and under-utilized at night (i.e. inactive, on the ground). These problems are very bad for business.

These problems are also bad for the customers of our customers, i.e. the government agencies that are accountable for solving this globally worsening problem. Destructive wildfires decimate economies, debilitate communities and destroy the climate.  

The Solution

Our AI-Driven Advanced Technology upgrades make existing airplanes much safer and more accurate during the day, by using TruePASS™, and then soon, these assets will be on standby for use 24/7, using our flight autonomy upgrade, called SOFI™. It has AI that thinks like a pilot.

TruePASS can increase accuracy from 60% to 99% while dramatically improving safety, and then SOFI can double asset utilization, finally ending destructive wildfires.

In 2021, 17% of the world's carbon emissions came from uncontained wildfires costing the US $11.2 Billion

That’s more carbon than was emitted by all of the cars, trucks, industry and other sources from the USA, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, United Kingdom, France and all the Pacific Islands, combined. We can fix this.

Our vision

Unlock aviation's
Full potential

Our order book is starting to fill up for TruePASS™. If you operate aerial firefighting airplanes, get in fast to secure your spot.

845 15TH STREET, STE 103, SAN DIEGO, CA, 92101​

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