Queensland-based Air BP distributor Lowes Air has expanded its regional presence across the eastern seaboard of Australia in a roll-out strategy that has passed the company's expectations.
Only three years ago, the Goondiwindi company limited its operations to supplying bulk aviation fuel out of Brisbane to a smattering of regional airports and private properties, but embarked on a strategy of expanding their eastern seaboard footprint, which now covers avgas and Jet-A1 pumps from Horn Island to Hobart.
The task of implementing the new strategy fell to Lowes' Aviation Manager Troy Martin, who said it was a natural progression to meet the demands of their regional customers.
“Today’s rural operations will more often than not have aviation equipment,” he said. “Whether for crop dusting or contracted services or reducing the distance needed to get to a town for supplies, we can now service our rural customers like never before.
“Lowes always had a bulk aviation fuel offer, but it was only deliverable out of Brisbane. We also wanted to increase Lowes Petroleum’s footprint with a diversification away from solely supplying ground fuels.”
Martin says one of the most pleasing aspects of the roll-out has been the extent of customer up-take, which has reached levels well above expectations.
"We have over 1000 customers with aviation fuel cards, so the business has grown exponentially," he said. "It has been pleasing to see how quickly it has grown from the start-up phase – delivering above the business plan.”
One of the new locations Lowes has installed Jet-A1 facilities is at the prestigious Barnbougle Dunes golf resort on the north-east coast of Tasmania. Ranked by some in the Top 100 golf courses in the world, Barnbougle regularly attracts golfers from all over the world, many flown in by charter operators from the mainland.
Lowes installed a modern off-grid, solar powered outdoor payment terminal tank, which provides charter operators of turbo-props like King Airs and Pilatus PC-12s with the opportunity to refuel on-site. However, it also has benefits for a local helicopter operator as well.
“There’s immeasurable peace of mind in knowing you can get aviation fuel when you need it,” Utility Helicopters’ Peter Radford explained. “It also means I don’t have to drive back to Hobart to refill my tank. The work we do is varied: we do a lot for the fire service, then there’s forestry, longlining, hooking, and mining works.
“We just spent three months with one aircraft moving mining equipment and people around. Access to fuel in a place as remote as this is certainly a huge benefit for regional business.”
Other regional locations with Lowes Air avgas or Jet-A1 pumps include Broken Hill, Horsham, Moree, Cloncurry, Redcliffe, Maitland and Merimbula among many others.