FORT SIMPSON - The jet fuel shortage at the Fort Simpson airport is just the latest in a long line of difficulties with the fueling service, according to an airport worker.

As an observer communicator with the Community Aerodrome Radio Station in Fort Simpson, Steven Brown hears the pilots talk about the fueling services offered by Norman Wells Petroleum. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

There has been an ongoing problem with the availability of fuel and services under Norman Wells Petroleum, said Steven Brown, an observer communicator with the Community Aerodrome Radio Station at the Fort Simpson airport.

On April 16 the fuel at the airport ran dry after a Boeing 727 chartered by the Department of National Defence for Operation Narwhal refueled.

Winter Lennie, one of the owners and managers of Norman Wells Petroleum, said on April 24 that the shortage was due to a lack of funds. The company didn't have the resources to pay for a fuel purchase prior to break-up.

Without Operation Narwhal, there would have been enough jet fuel in the tanks for carriers such as Air Tindi and First Air, said Lennie. Lennie also said that the company doesn't feel it has the support of the aviation community.

Although this may be the first time the tanks have completely run dry, there have been a number of occasions where one of the three types of fuel offered by Norman Wells Petroleum has run out, said Brown.

The supply of Jet A-1 fuel ran out in mid-December 2006, said Brown. The company did issue notice notifying all carriers of the shortage.

However, the lack of Jet A-1 fuel means that First Air hasn't been able to refuel at the airport since December because they only burn that type of fuel, said Brown.

While working at the airport for almost three years, Brown said he has seen a number of occasions where one type of fuel has run out. The shortages affect pilots flying into Fort Simpson, he said.

Pilots rely on the information printed in the Canada Flight Supplement, produced by NAV Canada, to tell them about services found at every airport in Canada.

In the most recent edition, it states that pilots can find Jet A-1 fuel year around at the Fort Simpson airport. From June 1 to Sept. 30, there's a type of AVGAS offered which is switched to Jet B fuel for the rest of the year. The information also states that a 20 minute notice is needed for refueling.

Pilots will radio when they are approximately 20 minutes away asking for a refueling, said Brown. Because he looks after the radio, Brown phones the Norman Wells Petroleum workers in Fort Simpson to let them know to come to the airport.

Norman Wells Petroleum doesn't have an employee stationed at the airport, but instead uses a service charge when an employee drives out to refuel a plane.

Even with two phone numbers listed, including a mobile radio, the employee on duty can be hard to reach, said Brown. Planes have waited while he has phoned around town to find the employee, Brown said.

On one occasion the main refueler was out of town and the back-up didn't have a vehicle so the pilot had to pay for the taxi fare to get him to the airport, said Brown. Brown said he has seen approximately 12 occasions were planes were unable to refuel.

The problems with the fuel service are giving the Fort Simpson airport a bad name because pilots share stories, Brown said.

"We're suffering for it," he said.

Brown said he worries what will happen if a medevac plane ever comes in from Yellowknife and unexpectedly needs to fly on to Edmonton and needs to refuel but can't get serviced.

"It's a matter of pure luck we haven't got trapped in that situation," he said.

First Air has had problems obtaining Jet A-1 fuel at the Fort Simpson airport, said Jim Ballingall, the vice-president of marketing and sales for the company.

When fuel isn't available, it can affect the payloads the planes can carry and that has an economic effect on the airline. If fuel isn't available planes aren't able to carry as many passengers because that weight is needed for additional fuel, Ballingall said. Ballingall said that the company has also had problems obtaining fuel in a few other small communities.

Calls to Air Tindi were not returned.

The Department of Transportation has reviewed the arrangement with Norman Wells Petroleum, said Jim Winsor, director of airports for the Department of Transportation.

The department has made efforts to work with the company to see what the issues are surrounding the fuel shortage and how they can be fixed. The company has been asked to supply in writing, by the end of the week, a plan for how they will fix the problem in a reasonable amount of time, said Winsor.

The plan will be reviewed by the department to ensure it contains a reasonable timeline.

"We don't see the issue should be that big," Winsor said.

Although the department is willing to give a business a bit of time if it's needed, the needs of the aviation community will come first, he said.

"What's paramount is service to the industry," said Winsor.

If Norman Wells Petroleum is unable to present a suitable plan the department will let other people in the fuel industry know either informally or through a call for proposals that another fuel supplier is being sought, said Winsor.

The proposals will have to meet criteria to ensure the needs of the industry are met, he said.

Norman Wells Petroleum doesn't have an exclusive privilege to supply fuel. At several airports in the territory there is more than one fuel provider, said Winsor.

Lennie could not be reached for further comment.