A Canadian fuel distribution company that 10 months ago launched a small commuter aviation service in its prairie province base of Alberta, is now scouting the possibility of establishing a seaplane operation in Jamaica, primarily to serve the tourist industry.

"It's strictly in the exploratory stage right now, and we are just doing a feasibility study to determine if we should go ahead," Ken Williams, the head of Alberta Fuel Distributor's (AFD)'s recently-launched flight department, said of his current visit to Jamaica.

"We are initially looking at guest transportation from MoBay to the south coast tourist area and now exploring the south coast for a potential landing site," Williams said.

Nifty entrepreneur

Established in 1989 by a nifty entrepreneur, Parker McLean, with a single pick-up van and the basement of his home as his headquarters, AFD has grown into one of Canada's biggest and fastest growing fuel and lubricant marketers, serving logging, construction and mining firms in Alberta, as well as surrounding provinces of British Colombia, Saskatchewan, the Northern Territories and beyond. AFD has grown substantially by acquisition as well as line extension, including the construction of specially strengthened, environmentally-friendly fuel tanks in China.

Now, McClean, who has a home in Black River, St Elizabeth, apparently believes that it might be possible to expand AFD's fledgling aviation arm - it has three commuter planes - to Jamaica. AFD is working on the Jamaica project with Jason Henzel, who runs the boutique hotel, Jake's, in Treasure Beach, St Elizabeth. The company dispatched Williams, who used to run his own aviation business, to Jamaica for the first phase of determining whether the business is possible.

"We are currently in the process of trying to determine what operating cost in Jamaica would be," he told the Financial Gleaner. "Finances will have to be looked at in terms of return on investment which is difficult to estimate as one does not realise profitability immediately."

While small commuter planes, landing in stretches of pastures, in the sea and in rivers, might be relatively common in the rough and tumble world of the Canadian hinterland, it would be nostalgic for Jamaica, harking back to the early days of aviation in the island when Pan Am's Yankee Clipper landed in the sea off the Palisadoes in Kingston.

It would likely also fit the laid-back image of the Jamaican south coast that tourism planners and industry operators there like to pro-ject. It is that image from old black and white films of the planes landing in the sea and the stars emerging into an unspoilt tropical paradise.

Indeed, Williams said the sea plane service, if launched, would be targeted at the mid to high-end tourist who wants to experience this kind of travel between points on the island.

Potential landing sites

Williams has flown one of AFD's planes around the island, looking a potential landing sites, including, presumably, areas close to Jake's and other south coast properties.

The Civil Aviation Authority said it has not received an application for a commercial operating licence, although the agency is apparently aware of the company's prospecting and search for requisite information, including from appropriate environmental agencies.

This first phase of the feasibility study should be completed by mid April.

"If the outcome is favourable, then we will fast track the licence and thus expect to be up and running by the next tourist season in November," he said.

sabrina.gordon@gleanerjm.com