Air aviation news – Duncan Aviation, which lays claim as the largest privately owned business jet service provider in the world, is pressing ahead with major expansion plans in both Lincoln, Nebraska, and Battle Creek, Michigan. Speaking with AIN ahead of this year\u2019s NBAA show, Duncan Aviation president Jeff Lake explained that the company hatched the plans for significant expansion before the onset of the Covid pandemic, attesting to its prescience ahead of the industry\u2019s rapid growth since then.<\/p>\n
Using the latest \u201cgreen\u201d construction technologies, the company worked with long-time partner Tectonic Management Group to build at both locations a 46,000-square-foot hangar with 32-foot-high doors and an additional 62,000-square-foot, two-floor wing for storage and back shops.<\/p>\n
Costing about $66 million and slated for completion during next year\u2019s first quarter, the projects feature sustainability elements such as light harvesting, radiant floor heating with energy-efficient boilers, LED lighting fixtures with sensors, and automatic dimming. Tectonic estimates that its buildings and systems will perform more than 25 percent more efficiently than required by standard energy codes.<\/p>\n
The increased footprint for aircraft projects will require the addition of 80 employees at each location \u201cin the short term,\u201d said Lake, and the hiring push has begun. The jobs include airframe technicians as well as positions in interior, installations, engine, paint, and support shops.<\/p>\n
The Lincoln and Battle Creek expansions follow a similar project completed in 2019 in Provo, Utah, where the employee roles have expanded from 125 to 400 since then. Capabilities in Provo include avionics installations and modifications; interior completions; airframe maintenance for all models of Bombardier, Gulfstream, Dassault, Embraer, and Textron Aviation aircraft; on-wing engine work, engine changes, and quick turns; paint; and ground support equipment manufacturing.<\/p>\n
The Provo site also hosts a two-year A&P apprenticeship program, one of the initiatives Duncan has instituted to address the alarming shortage of maintenance professionals. \u201cWe have been able to add significant [numbers] this year,\u201d said Lake. \u201cI would say we were much more challenged last year. It was really tough to even get people to apply for jobs. We couldn\u2019t get people in to interview.\u201d<\/p>\n
The extent of the shortage varies depending on where the need for mechanics arises, observed Lake, who noted that Provo has presented a particular challenge. \u201cWe were more challenged in Provo just because of the competition [for talent] we had there,\u201d he explained. \u201cYears ago, when we decided to go into Provo, in the 2007, 2008 timeframe, it was much different. So we thought we had a very good labor market\u2026but over the past 10 years, Provo and that whole valley just exploded.<\/p>\n
\u201cWhen we look for locations, people sometimes wonder, \u2018Why are you in Battle Creek, Michigan, or why are you in Lincoln, Nebraska?\u2019 And quite honestly, we have an advantage getting that labor resource here because we\u2019re not competing with a bunch of other large manufacturers or MROs.\u201d<\/p>\n
The other big challenge for Duncan\u2014as for virtually every player in the MRO business\u2014centers on the supply chain disruptions and the resulting lack of parts availability. The situation has strained the company\u2019s ability to perform repairs in a timely way, explained Lake, who added that the problem cuts across just about every area of need and extends to things such as engineering services Duncan outsources. Meanwhile, late parts deliveries mean aircraft that should have left Duncan\u2019s facilities remain in the hangar, taking space it needs to accommodate new business.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully we\u2019ll see some improvement by the middle of next year,\u201d said Lake. \u201cAt the same time, you can\u2019t just hope for something. So we\u2019re doing everything we can to make sure we\u2019re pre-planning better and looking for other sources\u2026So we\u2019ve really worked with our customers to schedule out in advance. We\u2019ve got work scheduled for well into next year. We\u2019ve even got aircraft scheduled into 2025.\u201d<\/p>\n