LINCOLN, NEB. — This summer, Duncan Aviation’s avionics satellite network celebrates an important milestone—the 25th anniversary of the opening of the first Duncan Avionics shop. Don Fiedler, Business Development Associate at Duncan Aviation, says the idea for the “satellite” concept came from then-company Chairman Robert Duncan. A friend of his was in the shoe business and owned small shoe stores in several large department stores. This friend was an expert in the retail shoe business and could provide the department store’s customers with more specific, expert attention and service. He saw how this idea might benefit aviation and his avionics customers, who constantly told him they wished Duncan Aviation was closer to their home field.
After some market research, Fiedler began working with Beckett Aviation, a company with several Fixed Base Operations (FBOs) and some aircraft maintenance but little to no avionics capabilities. Before long, Duncan Aviation was running Beckett Aviation’s avionics shop at Hobby Airport in Houston. The agreement was that if things went well, they would welcome Duncan Avionics into their other locations, like Chicago and White Plains. The rest of the story is now part of Duncan Aviation’s history. As the business aviation industry changed, Duncan Aviation continued to partner with prominent FBOs at high-volume business aircraft airports. In the early 1990s, Duncan Aviation began a satellite work-away program. These facilities work in conjunction with full-service Duncan Avionics locations to provide avionics line services for operators at airports located near our main satellite avionics facilities. Duncan Aviation now has 14 satellite avionics locations and nine work-away avionics locations.
In 2000, Duncan Aviation tweaked the concept with the development of Rapid Response Teams, which positioned engine experts in the field and closer to our customers. These teams of engine experts were located near some of our satellite avionics facilities and are able to provide operators with AOG engine service at their location or anywhere in the world if they become stranded. “The Rapid Response Teams have been a tremendous asset to the satellite shops and to our customers,”Fiedler says. “The two teams working together create better service options for our customers.
“I am proud to be a member of this great satellite team as well as a member of the Duncan Aviation organization. We have good leaders and technicians working in our satellites. These people have lived up to Duncan Aviation’s expectations and core values.” Duncan Aviation is an aircraft service provider supporting the aviation needs of government and business operators and other service providers. Services include major and minor airframe inspections and maintenance, engine services, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems in addition to full paint and interior services and aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has aircraft components solutions experts available 24/7/365 at 800.228.1836 or 402.475.4125 (international) who can handle any aircraft system problem with immediate exchanges, rotables, loaners or avionics/instrument/accessory/propeller repairs and overhauls.
Complete service facilities are located in Lincoln, Neb., and Battle Creek, Mich. Additional locations include more than 20 satellite avionics facilities strategically located throughout the United States. For more information about any of Duncan Aviation’s services, contact us at 402.475.2611 or 800.228.4277. Or visit us on the web at www.duncanaviation.aero.
