Duncan Aviation has a long history that dates back to 1956 when an entrepreneur named Donald Duncan realized the value airplanes could bring to local businesses and bought into a Beechcraft distributorship in Omaha, Nebraska, forming the roots of Duncan Aviation. Donald sold hundreds of Bonanzas, Travel Airs, Twin Bonanzas, Barons, and Twin Beeches.
In 1963, Duncan Aviation opened a facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, at the then-new Lincoln Municipal Airport and Donald arranged to be a Learjet Distributor. Over the years, he would sell hundreds of Learjets.
Donald moved the headquarters to Lincoln in 1967 and closed the Omaha location. Then in 1968, Donald’s son, Robert, who had worked full-time for the company for only three years, became President. Although Duncan Aviation no longer had a jet distributorship, the company supported a growing resale market for Learjets and other business aircraft. The aircraft sales division was led by Donald, and Robert ran the day-to-day operations of line/fuel services and aircraft maintenance and support. He saw the ongoing needs of supporting the aircraft his father sold from tip-to-tail and slowly grew those capabilities.
Throughout the 1980s and early 1990s, Duncan Aviation grew in size and experience with innovative ideas. Many partnerships with aircraft manufacturers were forged and authorized service agreements were obtained for the major OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturer). Innovative growth also came from development of a satellite avionics network, a parts consignment service, and a jet acquisition/consulting offering.
In 1996, Aaron Hilkemann became President of Duncan Aviation, and he developed a senior leadership team to help guide the company and make mindful, strategic decisions. Over the next 25 years, the company quadrupled in size. Some of the strategic moves that made this happen include: a 1998 acquisition in Battle Creek, Michigan; continued growth of its avionics network; development of engine Rapid Response service teams; construction projects to enlarge existing maintenance and repair facilities in Nebraska and Michigan; and ground-up development of a maintenance and repair facility in Provo, Utah. Innovation and change have always been a part of Duncan Aviation.
In 2007, Robert retired and his son and longtime Duncan Aviation team member Todd Duncan was named Chairman, where he leads the company’s Board of Directors.
“I’m so proud to be a part of Duncan Aviation’s legacy,” says Todd. “Being family owned gives us the ability to plan long-term for our team members and our customers. With my twin sons (Harrison and PK pictured next to Robert and Todd Duncan) entering the business recently, making Duncan Aviation a fourth generation business, our family ownership structure is in place to support the company and our team members for decades to come.”
Today, Duncan Aviation is the world’s largest privately owned business aviation support network. We have a history of trying new ideas and an ability to innovate and transition to future aviation trends. Duncan Aviation is headquartered in Lincoln with other locations, shops, and teams located across the United States. Three full-service MRO locations provide tip-to-tail service for just about any business aircraft. These services include airframe maintenance, engine repairs and overhauls, interior modifications and completions, exterior paint, avionics installations, and full-service Fixed Based Operator (FBO) support with fuel and line services. There are more than two dozen Satellite locations that provide avionics line and installations services. We also provide dedicated engine Rapid Response teams at strategically placed launch locations. These team members help customers when they need us most by providing engine line services, troubleshooting, and repairs to get their aircraft back up and running again after various Airplane-On-Ground (AOG) events.
Duncan Aviation believes that the most important contributor to customer satisfaction is the quality of its workforce and the training its team members receive; if the company takes care of its team members, the team members will in turn take care of the customers.
This attitude earned Duncan Aviation placement for four successive years on FORTUNE magazine’s list of the 100 Best Companies to Work For.
“Duncan Aviation boasts intelligent, driven and passionate team members, hundreds of whom have worked for us for 25 years or more,” Todd says. “We are a company of outstanding individuals who strive to be the best team in the field and provide customers with outstanding service. Ask about Duncan Aviation throughout the industry and you will hear that our brand represents excellent quality, service and ethics for our customers and our team members.”