JEA did in fact express interest in the F27 -200 in about 1983, two aircraft were prepared by Air Uk at Norwich, but the deal fell through and both aircraft went to the US, Mesarba airlines I think.
The F27s operated by JEA were ex East West 500 series from Tamworth, the initial survey of the aircraft and records was carried out in 1989 and the deal went through about two years later.