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A Brief History
Carib Aviation started in 1973 with a single 6-passenger Beech aircraft for the main purpose of transporting guests for the Coco Point Hotel between Antigua and Barbuda. The operation was known as "Barbuda Wings".
This internal service did very well for the first two years. In fact, it did so well that a second aircraft of the same type was obtained and went into service in the second winter tourist season of 1975/6. It was at this point that the owners started to think about setting up their own maintenance arrangements rather than relying on LIAT engineers for their assistance on their own time.
The airline rented space in the "Seagreen" hangar (Seagreen operated a single DC-3 freight aircraft) and hired a freelance mechanic. Up to this the airline had operated under a US registration because it was simple and only required an "A&P"-qualified mechanic to perform 100-hour inspections.
It became clear that, if Carib Aviation was to continue operating within the British Caribbean, the aircraft would have to be registered in the State of Antigua and a more sophisticated maintenance arrangement would be required. A fully licensed engineer was therefore employed to accomplish this task.
The Seagreen hangar provided the necessary space for carrying out maintenance on the aircraft as well as adequate storage for spare parts, equipment and tools. However, the Seagreen operation had been losing more money each year and was gradually phasing itself out. Their increasing difficulties with the US FAA made it clear that they would not be allowed to continue operating for much longer.
It was at this stage that Carib Aviation made the decision to put their aircraft on the local registry and at the same time build their own maintenance hangar near the old disused Runway 10 and across from the Seagreen hangar.
This was a momentous decision for the small operation, calling for a relatively large capital expenditure on both the building as well as the necessary additional equipment, tools and maintenance personnel.
Shortly after this decision, the Coco Point Lodge in Barbuda decided to terminate the agreement with "Barbuda Wings". The airline therefore found itself in the unenviable position of having two aircraft and a considerable investment in equipment, but without any appreciable source of revenue.
So the name "Barbuda Wings" gave way to the more appropriate "Carib Aviation", and new routes and services were sought.
Unfortunately for the tourism industry in Nevis - and fortunately for Carib Aviation - there was a need for a reliable air service to that island, and it was into this market that the Carib Aviation concentrated its endeavours.
It is no secret that Carib Aviation saved the Nevis hotel industry with direct connections to the major carriers at Antigua which enabled passengers arriving in Antigua for Nevis to be on the island within an hour of arriving in Antigua.
To make the travel arrangements easier, Carib Aviation established a system whereby one or two passengers could use the charter services without having to pay the full rate for an aircraft, and the airline established its own radio-telephone links between their offices in Antigua and the major hotels in Nevis.
Use of the airline's service grew by leaps and bounds, and a third aircraft, closely followed by a fourth, were needed and acquired. Several of the main Caribbean sales organisations in the UK (Caribbean Connections, Elegant Resorts and Carib Tours, for instance) began to use the airline's services and had high praise for the prompt and efficient transfer of their clients to Nevis.
As the hotel and tourist industry in Anguilla began to grow, similar requests were made for that island. Then, further interest was developed in the UK market for the island of St. Barths, which subsequently became the "in" place to be... and there was increased demand for flights to this new destination.
As a consequence of these new opportunities, Carib Aviation's annual revenue more than doubled between 1983 and 1988.
In the years following, Carib Aviation was forced to retire their first Beech type of aircraft due to increasing operating costs and passenger loads. These were replaced with Britten-Norman Islander aircraft, which could comfortably carry eight passengers and all of their baggage.
At the same time, there was still an urgent need for a more economical aircraft which could carry smaller loads - ideally, up to four passengers and their baggage. Two Partenavia aircraft were purchased which fit the need, were economical to operate, and which proved quiet and reliable.
By 1995, Carib owned three Islanders, three Partenavias and an Excalibur (which carried 6 passengers at higher speeds over longer distances than the other two). This combination satisfied most of the load needs Carib normally carried.
With the increasing trend towards European certification in the region, after many months of preparation and hard work in 1995 Carib Aviation earned the European Common Market Aviation certificate (known as the Joint Airworthiness Requirement #145).
This certification qualifies and recognises Carib Aviation's repair organisation as being the only one currently approved to repair and certify aircraft under any European registration in the Caribbean region.
Because the European and American authorities began to work so closely together in the field of joint cooperation in such matters as aircraft maintenance and aircraft airworthiness standards, Carib Aviation's attainment of the JAR 145 will also qualify the airline for certification under the US FAA Part 145 standards.
Carib Aviation should very soon be fully certified by both the US and the European Community as an approved repair and maintenance facility.
By 2000 Carib Aviation had joined a regional alliance with LIAT, Air Caribes and WinAir and was operating scheduled services on LIAT routes with the addition of a Twin Otter.
Early in 2001 Carib Aviation was sold by Frank Delisle and was paired with another regional charter airline, Trans Island Air of Barbados, under the same ownership.
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Last modified: October 17, 2002
