banner1.jpg

The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

When You’re AOG, Call Duncan Aviation

Posted by Kate Dolan on Thu, Apr 19, 2018 @ 09:00 AM

The Avionics Technicians at Duncan Aviation go to great lengths to help customers.

 On a snowy Saturday in Lincoln, Nebraska, Manager of Satellite Operations, Matt Nelson, got a call from a customer with an N-registered Embraer Phenom 300 that was AOG in Medellin, Colombia in South America.

The customer had a flight scheduled on Wednesday, but his Phenom needed an RVSM (Reduced Vertical Separation Minimum) inspection before it could fly again. Another company had been scheduled to perform the inspection but had canceled at the last minute, so the inspection date had passed and the customer and his Phenom were AOG.

Edduyn in the Phenom

Edduyn Pita, Manager of the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shop in Atlanta, Georgia, offered to fly to Medellin, Colombia and perform the inspection. First, he had to locate PitoStatic adapters, necessary for the inspection, and he found them at the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shop in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City shop Manager, Jeff Aman, shipped the parts, Edduyn received them on Monday, and he flew to Colombia early Tuesday morning with the parts and test equipment.

“As soon as I landed, I went straight to the airport authority where I had to go through extensive security procedures,” says Edduyn. “In addition to passing through top security, I had to watch a 15-minute safety video, sign a bunch of forms, and get a badge. I was also briefed on how to conduct myself at the airport!”

By 4pm that day, Edduyn was working on the Phenom, and he finished the inspection around 9pm. The following morning, he performed a compass swing, which calibrates the compass system, and he signed the Return to Service certification

Edduyn in ColombiaAn hour later, the Phenom was on its way to Miami, Florida, 3 ½ hours away. Before flying back to Atlanta, Edduyn visited a local market, where he sampled wares from a few food vendors. His favorite was bandeja paisa (paisa platter), the national dish of Colombia.

You can download the free Duncan Aviation AOG Services app from iTunes or Google Play before you’re AOG so you can send an AOG request immediately, find tech support 24/7, contact the team or shop nearest you for assistance, and much more (www.DuncanAviation.aero/services/aog).

To schedule inspections and routine maintenance and prevent a potential AOG situation, call one of our full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan, Lincoln, Nebraska, and Provo, Utah (www.DuncanAviation.aero/locations/#fullservice) or call the Duncan Aviation Satellite Avionics Shops and workaway stations is nearest you (www.duncanaviation.aero/locations/#satellites).

1 Comment Click here to read/write comments

Tags: RVSM, Avionics Installation, AOG, Embraer

Aircraft Accessories: When There Are No Spares to Spare

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Thu, Feb 18, 2016 @ 11:15 AM

Paxton.jpg“When I’m told I’m going to get my unit back in three days, I get my unit back in three days, usually before.”
—Paul Paxton, Director of Maintenance

Paul Paxton runs a tight flight operation for Herzog Contracting Corp., performing a delicate balancing act keeping their fleet operational and ready for their weekly flights. “Wherever we have business, the aircraft have to be ready to go,” says Paul.

Headquartered in St. Joseph, Missouri, their weekly flights have taken them to 46 states and six countries. Herzog supports the growth of community and state infrastructures by building commuter rail and freight systems, as well as road, highway and airport construction projects.

Their flight hours fluctuate widely from week to week and month to month. This heavy flying schedule takes a lot of planning and constant communication. As the director of maintenance, Paul follows a detailed plan to keep the aircraft and all of the hourly components up-to-date with their maintenance schedules.

But as we all know, things happen and not always according to a set schedule. And when they do, it is important to have a back-up plan to get things back on track.

Paul recently found himself in a situation where his aircraft were going to be down at the same time due to the actual hours flown being nearly double what was expected. That caused one of the starter generators to get critically near the end of its hours. It needed to come out immediately and get sent in for overhaul.

Paul doesn’t keep a lot of spares on hand. Therefore, when he pulls a component for overhaul or repair, it essentially creates an AOG situation. “I either have to exchange it or have it expedited through the overhaul.” Preferring to have his own component back, he picked up the phone and called his back-up plan, Joy Damian. Joy is a customer account representative for Duncan Aviation’s Accessories department.

It was 4 o’clock in the afternoon on a Wednesday when Joy received Paul’s call. “I’m pulling a starter and I need it back ASAP. Can you help me out?” To which she replied, “We’ll work it in.”

After Paul made the two-and-a-half-hour drive to Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska, the starter generator was entered into the work order system and on the bench by 7:30 p.m. that same night. Once the overhaul was performed with brush replacements and final inspections, the work order was signed off at 6:37 a.m. Friday morning.

It was delivered back into Paul’s hands Friday afternoon and was installed and ready well ahead of the following week’s busy schedule.

Paul explains why he turns to Joy and Duncan Aviation when time is critical. “When Joy tells me I’m going to get my unit back in three days, I get my unit back in three days, usually before. There’s a high level of comfort knowing that I can confidently schedule future flights and other activities based on the date she promises.” Paul goes on to say the reason Joy is successful in her position is that she is backed by a team of skilled technicians who tackle the work. “I can rely upon what she says. That’s huge.”

Read more from the Fall 2015 Duncan Debrief Magazine

The Duncan Debrief free publication is available for aviation enthusiasts around the world through mail and online. To receive the magazine, subscribe here. Have an iPad? Access the magazine through the Duncan Debrief app. Search for Duncan Debrief in Apple’s App Store and download it. Once downloaded, you can receive push notifications each time a new Duncan Debrief magazine is published. 

1 Comment Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Parts & Accessories, AOG

Duncan Aviation Provides In-Field Avionics Services in Chicagoland

Posted by Duncan Download Blog on Thu, Jul 16, 2015 @ 08:00 AM

ChicagoDuncan Aviation's Battle Creek, Michigan, avionics team recently rolled out an off-site avionics service that allows business aircraft operators in the Chicago area to schedule comprehensive avionics line service in their hangars and at their airports instead of at one of Duncan Aviation's maintenance facilities.

"We value our many customers and contacts in the Chicago area and want to make sure they receive the avionics line support they need," says Paul Cummings, avionics manager at Duncan Aviation's Battle Creek facility. "So we have evaluated our avionics team and determined a way to provide scheduled in-the-field service for operators at the Chicago area airports. This saves the customer fuel and travel time, decreases their aircraft usage and makes avionics line maintenance events less disruptive to their overall schedules."

To schedule avionics line service in Chicago, call +1 630.207.7460.

Here are other in-field services available to operators across the United States.

Engine

Duncan Aviation also continues to staff an engine Rapid Response Team (RRT) in the Chicago area. Duncan Aviation engine service offices support AOG engine emergencies and scheduled engine maintenance events at our full service facilities in Lincoln, Nebraska, and Battle Creek, with RRTs supporting operators in the field. Each service office is interdependent, sharing staff and resources to support customers wherever and whenever they need engine service. To reach Duncan Aviation's engine RRT services, call 877.522.0111.

In-The-Field Interior

Duncan Aviation interior service specialists are able to provide scheduled, unscheduled and road trip interior service to customers requiring aircraft interior needs outside of a major Duncan Aviation facility.

In-The-Field Maintenance

Duncan Aviation has airframe maintenance teams ready to spring into action when needed for scheduled and unscheduled maintenance services in the field. Duncan Aviation has several company aircraft at its disposal to help move people, tools and parts quickly to best meet customer needs.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Avionics Installation, Airframe Maintenance, AOG

New Leadership in Duncan Aviation's Engine Rapid Response Network

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Thu, Feb 26, 2015 @ 11:49 AM

RRT-Travel_KitDuncan Aviation’s Engine Rapid Response network has grown and is more widely dispersed than ever. With 30 technicians strategically located across the United States, the demand for AOG and scheduled support at customer locations continues to increase. And they are answering the call, making the trip and getting each customer back in the air and back on schedule.

With this continued growth, we are proud to announce the appointment of new leaders within our Engine Rapid Response (RRT) network.

Download The Engine Rapid Response Fact Sheet Now

Joe Stubbs—Atlanta, Georgia

Joe Stubbs has been with Duncan Aviation for 10 years, nine of those on the engine line at the company's headquarters in Lincoln, Neb. In 2014, he successfully launched a new Engine Rapid Response office in Long Beach, Calif., then moved on to join the Seattle RRT. Turbine Engine Service Manager James Prater says that when the Atlanta leadership opportunity became available, Stubbs was the clear choice. "Joe's flexibility, versatility and wealth of engine knowledge make him a valuable resource in our RRT network. We are happy that he has accepted this leadership opportunity in Atlanta."

For engine service and support in the Atlanta region, Joe Stubbs can be reached at +1 770.286.4410.

Mike Bruhn—Chicago, Illinois

Mike Bruhn joined the Rapid Response Team in Chicago with experience as an A&P certified technician in flight departments and repair stations on a broad spectrum of corporate jets. In his five years at Chicago, he has built a strong rapport with area operators. "We are excited to allow Mike the opportunity to continue to strengthen those relationships while serving as Team Leader and work toward his vision for growing the team and expanding its presence throughout the area," says Prater.

For engine service and support in the Chicago region, Mike Bruhn can be reached at +1 773.294.5169.

Regis Biarrieta—Fort Lauderdale, Florida

Fort Lauderdale is Duncan Aviation's largest Engine Rapid Response Team. Regis Biarrieta has taken over as the new Team Leader for the Fort Lauderdale office. Baiarrieta has been with Duncan Aviation for four years, having worked in both Atlanta and Fort Lauderdale. His prior A&P experiences include airlines, corporate jets and government contracts where he spent seven years in Spain maintaining the Spanish Air Force Presidential and Royal fleet. Prater believes these experiences along with his Venezuelan roots and multilingual ability make him a great fit for Duncan Aviation's south Florida clientele. "He is a great asset in Fort Lauderdale and will be a tremendous Team Leader."

For engine service and support in the Fort Lauderdale region, Regis Biarrieta can be reached at +1 954.410.0058.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Engine Maintenance, AOG

At Duncan Aviation, AOG Means “We Will Make This Work.”

Posted by Duncan Download Blog on Mon, May 05, 2014 @ 03:44 PM

Jad Donaldson, Avfuel

"It doesn't matter when I call...late at night or over the weekend, Duncan Aviation has a bunch of people who really care…."
Jad Donaldson, Chief Pilot for Avfuel.

Jad Donaldson, chief pilot for Avfuel Corporation, along with Co-Captain Chris Kosin, flew the company’s Citation XLS+ from Ann Arbor, Michigan, to Harbor Springs last July.

As they prepped the Citation for the flight back to Ann Arbor, they saw a yellow Crew Alerting System (CAS) message, stating LH ENGINE CONTROL FAULT (ECF).

After discussing the CAS message, they shut down the entire aircraft, including powering off and pulling the battery. When they restarted the battery switch, 45 seconds in, the ECF message appeared again.

Unwelcome News

Reviewing the Aircraft Checklist delivered unwelcome news: The message required correction before flight. Jad also retrieved maintenance pages, reviewed the fault codes and analyzed the TLA maintenance screen.

“We were AOG,” says Jad, “so I immediately called Jayme Park, the Airframe Alternate-Shift Supervisor at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek, who has spent the last 17 years helping Duncan Aviation customers resolve their maintenance issues.

Bill Walker, Engine Tech Rep in Battle Creek, was confident that the codes indicated a multiple-level power supply failure on the motherboard in the engine computer.

Park Located Parts

Jaymie Park, Duncan Aviation

Jayme Park, Airframe Alternate-Shift Supervisor at Duncan Aviation in Battle Creek.

Jad called Co-Captain Jeff Squires to prep Avfuel’s second aircraft. Jeff flew from Ann Arbor to Battle Creek to pick up Aaron LaClair, a Duncan Aviation Engine Tech, on to Muskegon to get the new EEC and then to Harbor Springs.Within 15 minutes, Jayme had located the necessary EEC and set about gathering and processing the necessary paperwork to prepare the aircraft for eventual signoff and return to service.

Five and a half hours after Jad received the error code, Aaron was on the ramp, downloading the data from the Citation’s left-hand engine’s DCU.

Jad has a saying: Usually when people make something look easy, it’s not because it is easy but because they work so hard and have the necessary knowledge and experience to do the work right. He says, “Everyone I’ve worked with at Duncan Aviation has exhibited this principle. They work hard, and they have the knowledge and experience to stick with a problem and resolve it.”

That perseverance paid off. Around 2 a.m., Aaron and Jad pulled the functioning right-hand EEC, swapped it into the left-hand engine, and put the new part in the right-hand engine. By 3:45 a.m., when Jad brought the Citation back online, the onboard maintenance diagnostics returned no error codes, the TLD screen showed an N for both engines, and the channel assignments were normal.

The aircraft was no longer AOG, and there was still a little time to get back to the hotel and get some sleep before the day of shuttling passengers began.

A Valuable Relationship

Jad says, "We at Avfuel are fortunate to have access to technicians like Jayme Park. Jayme jumped in and used her leverage, intelligence and experience to get this issue resolved. I'm also fortunate to have the relationship I do with Duncan Aviation—it's like having my very own maintenance team. It doesn't matter when I call, either; whether it's late at night or over the weekend, Duncan Aviation has a bunch of people who really care… people like Jayme who are passionate about what they do and do everything they have to do to take care of their customers."

Duncan Debrief

You read more details about this story in the Spring 2014 Duncan Debrief. 

The Duncan Debrief is a free. You can subscribe to receive a printed copy of the magazine or access the current and past editions online at www.DuncanAviation.aero/debrief.

Or if you are truly on-the-go, the Duncan Debrief is available on Apple’s Newsstand for the iPad.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Customer Testimony, Engine Maintenance, AOG

200+ Aviation Acronyms in Celebration of Duncan Download's 200th Post

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Oct 12, 2012 @ 11:15 AM

Aviation Acronyms

There are nearly 3,000 identified aviation acronyms. Do you know them all?

Each industry has their own set of acronyms and abbreviations that often leave outsiders scratching their heads. There are nearly 3,000 identified aviation acronyms. However, in honor of the Duncan Download’s 200thblog post, I asked our own experts to share 200 aviation-related acronyms that they use most during a normal work day. These overachievers sent me nearly 300.

Do you know them all?

  1. (°C) — Degrees Celsius
  2. (°F) — Degrees Fahrenheit
  3. (A/D) — Analog to Digital Converter
  4. (A/I) — Anti-Icing
  5. (ac) — Alternating Current
  6. (A/C) — Aircraft
  7. (ACO) — Administrative Contracting Officer
  8. (AD) — Airworthiness Directive
  9. (ADC) — Air Data Computer
  10. (ADF) — Automatic Direction Finding
  11. (ADI) — Attitude Indicator
  12. (ADS-B) — Automatic Dependent Surveillance - Broadcast
  13. (AES) — Automatic Export System
  14. (AFIS) — Airborne Flight Information System
  15. (AFM) — Aircraft Flight Manual
  16. (AGB) — Accessory Gearbox
  17. (AGC) — Automatic gain control
  18. (AHRS) — Attitude Heading Reference System
  19. (ALI) — Airworthiness Limitation Item
  20. (AMM) — Aircraft Maintenance Manual
  21. (AMS) — Aerospace Material Specification
  22. (ANAC) — Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil
  23. (AOG) — Aircraft on Ground
  24. (APR) — Automatic Power Recovery
  25. (APU) — Auxiliary Power Unit
  26. (ARINC) — Aeronautical Radio Incorporated
  27. (ASAP) — As Soon As Possible
  28. (ASNT) — American Society of Nondestructive testing
  29. (ASSY) — Assembly
  30. (ATA) — Air Transportation Association
  31. (ATC) — Air Traffic Control
  32. (ATIS) — Automatic Terminal Information Service
  33. (ATTCS) — Automatic Take Off Thrust Control System
  34. (BAFO) — Best and Final Offer
  35. (BER) — Beyond economical repair
  36. (BIS) — Bureau of Industry and Security
  37. (BIT) — Binary Digit
  38. (BITE) — Built-in Test Equipment
  39. (BOV) — Bleed-off Valve
  40. (C/P) — Chief Pilot
  41. (C12) — King Air
  42. (C20) — Gulfstream
  43. (C21) — Learjet
  44. (CA) — Certificate of Airworthiness
  45. (CAA) — Civil Aviation Agency
  46. (CAC) — Common Access Card
  47. (CAM) — Certified Aviation Manager
  48. (CAMP) — Computerized Maintenance Program
  49. (CANPASS) — Canadian Passenger Accelerated Service System
  50. (CASP) — Corporate Aircraft Service Program
  51. (CAV) — Commercial Asset Visibility
  52. (CBP) — Customs and Border Patrol
  53. (cc) — Cubic Centimeters
  54. (CCW) — Counterclockwise
  55. (CDP) — Compressor Discharge Pressure
  56. (CDRL) — Contract Data Requirements List
  57. (CDU) — VHF Radio Transceiver
  58. (CFR) — Code of Federal Regulations
  59. (CG) — Center of Gravity
  60. (CIT) — Compressor Inlet Temperature
  61. (CL) — Class
  62. (CLS) — Contractor Logistics Support
  63. (CMR) — Certification Maintenance Requirement
  64. (CMS) — Cabin Management System
  65. (COC) — Certificate of Calibration
  66. (Comm) — Communication
  67. (COMSEC) — Communications Security
  68. (CONUS) — Continental United States
  69. (COO) — Country of Origin
  70. (COTR) — Contracting Officer's Technical Representative
  71. (CPAR) — Contractors Performance Assessment Reporting System
  72. (CPCP) — Corrosion Prevention Control Program
  73. (CPDLC) — Controller Pilot Data Link Communication
  74. (CPU) — Central Processing Unit
  75. (CRM) — Crew Resource Management
  76. (CRT) — Cathode Ray Tubes
  77. (CSN) — Catalog Sequence Numbers - Cycles Since New
  78. (CVR) — Cockpit Voice Recorder
  79. (CW) — Clockwise
  80. (CZI) — Compressor Zone Inspection
  81. (CZR) — Compressor Zone Repair
  82. (D/A) — Digital to Analogue Converter
  83. (DAR) — Designated Airworthiness Representative
  84. (DCAA) — Defense Contract Audit Agency
  85. (DCMA) — Defense Contracting Management Agency
  86. (DFAR) — Defense Federal Acquisition Regulations
  87. (DFDR) — Digital Flight Data Recorder
  88. (DH) — Decision Height
  89. (DIA) — Diameter
  90. (Dim.) — Dimension
  91. (DME) — Distance Measuring Equipment
  92. (DOD) — Domestic Object Damage
  93. (D.O.D.) — Department of Defense
  94. (DOM) — Director of Maintenance
  95. (DOS) — Department of State
  96. (DPHM) — Diagnostics, Prognostics and Health Management
  97. (DSS) — Defense Security Service
  98. (DUATS) — Direct User Access Terminal Service (weather/flight plan processing)
  99. (e-APIS) — Electronic Advanced Passenger Information System
  100. (EAR) — Export Administration Regulations
  101. (EASA) — European Aviation Safety Agency
  102. (ECCN) — Export Commodity Control Number
  103. (ECS) — Environment Control System
  104. (ECTM) — Engine Condition Trend Monitoring
  105. (EDS) — Engine Diagnostic System
  106. (EDU) — Engine Diagnostic Unit
  107. (EEC) — Electronic Engine Control
  108. (EEI) — Electronic Export Information
  109. (EERM) — Electrically Erasable Read Only Memory
  110. (EFB) — Electronic Flight Bag
  111. (EFD) — Electronic Flight Display
  112. (EFIS) — Electronic Flight Instrument System
  113. (EGWS) — Enhance Ground Proximity Warning System
  114. (EGT) — Exhaust Gas Temperature
  115. (EICAS) — Engine Indication and Crew Alert
  116. (ELT) — Emergency Locator Transmitter
  117. (EPR) — Engine Pressure Ratio
  118. (ESO) — Electronic Sign Off (somewhat unique to Duncan Aviation)
  119. (ESP) — Engine Service Plan
  120. (ET) — Eddy Current Testing
  121. (ETD/(A)/(E) — Estimated Time of Departure/(Arrival)/(Enroute)
  122. (F & C) — Fits and Clearances
  123. (FAA) — Federal Aviation Administration
  124. (FADEC) — Full Authority Digital Electronic Control
  125. (FANS) — Future Air Navigation System
  126. (FAR) — Federal Aviation Regulation
  127. (FBO) — Fixed Base Operation
  128. (FCPA) — Foreign Corrupt Practices Act
  129. (FCS) — Flight Control System
  130. (FCU) — Fuel Control Unit
  131. (FET) — Federal Excise Tax
  132. (FI) — Flight Idle
  133. (FIR) — Full Indicator Reading
  134. (FIS) — Flight Inspection System
  135. (FMC) — Flight Management Computer
  136. (FMS) — Flight Management System
  137. (FOB) — Fuel On Board
  138. (FOD) — Foreign Object Damage
  139. (FSDO) — Flight Standards District Office
  140. (FSO) — Facility Security Officer
  141. (FSOV) — Fuel Shut-off Valve
  142. (FT) — Function Test
  143. (FTR) — Federal Trade Regulations
  144. (FWD) — Forward
  145. (GBS) — Ground Based Software
  146. (GEAE) — GE Aircraft Engines
  147. (GFP) — Government Furnished Property
  148. (GI) — Ground Idle
  149. (GND) — Ground
  150. (GOM) — General Operations Manual
  151. (GPS) — Global Positioning System
  152. (GPWS) — Ground Proximity Warning System
  153. (H/W) — Hardware
  154. (HIRL) — High Intensity Runway Lighting
  155. (HP) — High Pressure
  156. (HPT) — High Pressure Turbine
  157. (HR.) — Hour
  158. (HSD) — High Speed Data
  159. (HSI) — Hot Section Inspection
  160. (HSI) — Horizontal Situation Indicator
  161. (HSR) — Hot Section Refurbishment
  162. (HTS) — Harmonized Tariff System
  163. (Hz) — Hertz
  164. (I) — Incident
  165. (IAW) — In Accordance With
  166. (ICA) — Instructions for Continued Airworthiness
  167. (ICAO) — International Civil Aviation Organization
  168. (ID) — Inside Diameter
  169. (IDG) — Integrated Drive Generator
  170. (IETM) — Interactive Engine Technical Manual
  171. (IFR) — Instrument Flight Rules
  172. (IGV) — Inlet Guide Vane
  173. (ILS) — Instrument Landing System
  174. (in.) — Inch
  175. (INBD) — Inboard
  176. (IPC) — Illustrated Parts Catalog
  177. (ISO) — International Standards Organization
  178. (ITAR) — International Traffic and Arms Regulations
  179. (ITT) — Interturbine Temperature
  180. (JAR OPS) — Joint Aviation Requirement for Operation (Europe)
  181. (JPAS) — Joint Personnel Adjudication System
  182. (JTR) — Joint Travel Regulations
  183. (kg.) — Kilogram
  184. (kPa) — Kilopascals
  185. (L/HIRF) — Lightning/High Intensity Radiated Field
  186. (lb.) — Pound
  187. (LOI) — Letter of Intent
  188. (LPT) — Low Pressure Turbine
  189. (LPV) — Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance
  190. (LRM) — Line Replaceable Module
  191. (LRU) — Line Replaceable Unit
  192. (M/N) — Model Number
  193. (Max) — Maximum
  194. (MDA) — Minimum Descent Altitude
  195. (MEL) — Minimum Equipment List
  196. (MFC) — Main Fuel Control
  197. (MFD) — Multi-Function Display
  198. (Min) — Minimum
  199. (MLG) — Main Landing Gear
  200. (MM) — Maintenance Manual
  201. (MOA) — Military Operations Area
  202. (MPA) — Maximum Power Assurance
  203. (MPD) — Maintenance Planning Document
  204. (MPI) — Major Periodic Inspection
  205. (MPU) — Multifunction Processor Unit
  206. (MRA) — Major Repair/Alteration
  207. (MRB-R) — Maintenance Review Board Report
  208. (MSG-3) — Maintenance Steering Group 3rd Task Force Aircraft Maintenance Program
  209. (MSP) — Maintenance Service Plan
  210. (MT) — Magnetic Particle Testing
  211. (MU) — Measurement Uncertainty
  212. (MUR) — Measurement Uncertainty Ratio
  213. (N2 -) — Nitrogen
  214. (NAA) — National Aviation Agency
  215. (NATO) — North Atlantic Treaty Organization
  216. (NAV) — Navigation
  217. (NBAA) — National Business Aviation Association
  218. (NDB) — Non-Directional Beacon
  219. (NDT) — Non-Destructive Testing
  220. (NextGen) — Next Generation Air Transportation System
  221. (NFF) — No Fault Found
  222. (NICAD) — Nickel Cadmium
  223. (NIST) — National Institute of Standards & Technology
  224. (NLG) — Nose landing gear
  225. (NOTAM) — Notice to Airmen
  226. (O2) — Oxygen
  227. (OC) — On condition
  228. (OCONUS) — Outside Continental United States
  229. (ODA) — Organization Delegation Authorization
  230. (OH) — Overhaul
  231. (OIML) — International Organization for Legal Metrology
  232. (OOT) — Out of Tolerance
  233. (OUTBD) — Outboard
  234. (P/N) — Part Number
  235. (PAMA) — Professional Aviation Maintenance Association
  236. (PAR) — Previous Authorization Required
  237. (PCO) — Procuring Contracting Officer
  238. (PIC) — Pilot In Command
  239. (PIREP) — Pilot Reports
  240. (PM) — Program Manager
  241. (PMA) — Parts Manufacturer Approval
  242. (POA) — Power of Attorney
  243. (PSE) — Primary Structural Element
  244. (PSU) — Passenger service unit
  245. (PT) — Penetrant testing
  246. (PWS) — Performance Work Statement
  247. (QA) — Quality Assurance 
  248. (QAR) — Quality Assurance Representative
  249. (QCM) — Quality Control Manual
  250. (QT) — Quick Turn
  251. (RAAS) — Runway Awareness and Advisory System
  252. (RAD) — ALT Radio Altimeter
  253. (RAT) — Ram Air Turbine
  254. (RFI) — Request for Information
  255. (RFM) — Removed From Market
  256. (RFQ) — Request for Quote
  257. (RNAV) — Area Navigation
  258. (RNP) — Required Navigation Performance
  259. (ROM) — Rough order of magnitude
  260. (RSGOM) — Repair Station General Operating Manual
  261. (RSM) — Repair Station Manual
  262. (RTS) — Return To Service
  263. (RTU) — Radio Tuning Unit
  264. (RVSM) — Reduced Vertical Separation Minimums
  265. (S/N) — Serial Number
  266. (SATCOM) — Satellite Communications
  267. (SB) — Service Bulletin
  268. (SBB) — Swiftbroadband
  269. (SELCAL) — Selective Calling
  270. (SHOT) — Since Hot Section Overhaul
  271. (SIC) — Second In Command
  272. (SMOH) — Since Major Overhaul (Engines)
  273. (SMS) — Safety Management System
  274. (SOP) — Standard Operating Procedure
  275. (SOW) — Statement of Work
  276. (STC) — Supplemental Type Certificate
  277. (TAF) — Terminal Area Forecast
  278. (TAP) — Total Assurance Program
  279. (TAR) — Test Accuracy Ratio
  280. (TAWS) — Terrain Awareness Warning System
  281. (TBO) — Time Between Overhaul
  282. (TCAS) — Traffic Collision Avoidance System
  283. (TCAS MOPS 7.1) — Minimum Operation Performance Specification 7.1
  284. (TCH) — Threshold Crossing Height
  285. (TFR) — Temporary Flight Restriction
  286. (TSA) — Transportation Security Administration
  287. (TSH) — Time Since Hot (Engines)
  288. (TSN) — Time Since New
  289. (TSO) — Time Since Overhaul
  290. (TTSN) — Total Time Since New
  291. (TUR) — Test Uncertainty Ratio
  292. (UC) — Under Contract
  293. (USCG) — United States Coast Guard
  294. (UT) — Ultrasonic Testing
  295. (VFR) — Visual Flight Rules
  296. (VSI) — Vertical Speed Indicator
  297. (WAAS) — Wide Area Augmentation System
  298. (Wi-Fi) — Wireless Fidelity

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, engine maintenance, major retrofits for cabin and cockpit systems, full paint, interior and modification services and pre-owned aircraft sales and acquisitions. Duncan Aviation also has aircraft components and parts 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, Nebraska, and Battle Creek, Michigan. Additional locations include a maintenance facility in Provo, Utah, more than 20 satellite avionics facilities and eight engine Rapid Response Team launch offices strategically located for worldwide support.   

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.

1 Comment Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Avionics & Instruments, Aircraft Parts, Avionics Installation, Engine Maintenance, Airframe Maintenance, Announcements, AOG

How A Nose Wheel Steering Malfunction Left A Lasting Impression

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Fri, Jun 01, 2012 @ 08:59 AM

Brad Sides

Brad Sides is a 12-year Duncan Aviation veteran, leading by example by delivering what is required to meet a customer's expectation. "It's all in a day's work."

In late March, a customer contacted Duncan Aviation for off-site assistance with a nose wheel steering malfunction. This customer sent the following letter to Allen Sward, Duncan Aviation Airframe Team Leader, regarding the experience. We decided to share these remarks because although we can say we hold ourselves to a higher standard of service than other service providers in business aviation, nothing says it quite like our customers do. The customer's name and company have been removed at his request.

Allen,

On March 28, 2012, our C680 had a Nose Wheel Steering malfunction in Nebraska City, NE. Our in-house maintenance department contacted Duncan Aviation in Lincoln. Your maintenance technician, Brad Sides was assigned the task of repairing our aircraft remotely. Brad made the drive down to AFK immediately and began the work required. He worked non-stop until late that evening, and then returned again the following morning to complete the repair which allowed us to ferry the aircraft to LNK for the functional tests required.

I have been in corporate aviation for 21 years and have experienced maintenance at many other service facilities. Duncan Aviation and Brad Sides made this maintenance event the best I have ever experienced.

Things that impressed me regarding Brad:

  • He was there when we were told he would be.
  • He stayed until late to get the part off of the aircraft for repairs.
  • He coordinated with Lincoln to move the part back to the shop quickly.
  • He was very pleasant, friendly, and professional.
  • He explained everything easily and kept me informed on the process.
  • His expert skills speak for themselves.
  • Bottom line........he gave 100%!


“Great People make Great Companies!” so,

Things that impressed me regarding Duncan:

  • They responded quickly.
  • They obviously have people who know their job.
  • All of the employees seem to work very well together communicating and closing the gaps.
  • Everyone involved in the maintenance was friendly and professional.
  • The front desk staff was very helpful, friendly, and professional.
  • The best part.......we were out of there when Duncan said we would be!

Thanks again for making this event as pleasurable as possible.

Sincerely,
Senior Pilot, Fortune 300 Company

Brad Sides, Duncan Aviation Lead Mechanic from Lincoln, NE, believes one of the most important parts of his job is to deliver exactly what the customer expects, but strives to deliver more. "This customer came to Duncan Aviation expecting the best. That's the level of service that I want to provide." Brad is a 12-year Duncan Aviation veteran, his aviation career began in 1998.

Duncan Aviation offers emergency AOG services and 24/7 troubleshooting for grounded aircraft in your hangar or around the world, with remote AOG engine Rapid Response teams based at several strategic locations across the United States. All AOG teams that respond are equipped with the resources necessary for most aircraft and engine emergencies, and are supported by Duncan Aviation's two full-service facilities and network of avionics satellite repair stations.

Duncan Aviation’s mobile app is available for download on iPads®, and makes it easier to contact service locations, service representatives and department listings.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Customer Testimony, Airframe Maintenance, Customer Service, AOG

Duncan Aviation Technicians Travel the World in 2011

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Wed, Jan 25, 2012 @ 10:04 AM

In 2011, Duncan Aviation team members made hundreds of trips around the world providing AOG services. While providing the most-needed AOG services to our customers on nearly every Continent, team members also took in some local culture, food and sites.

Berlin, Germany

Berlin, Germany

In March, Scott Shefke, Challenger/Global Tech Rep, traveled to Berlin,Germany, to perform and assess the viability of restoring a Challenger CL 604 to airworthiness status. The project included performing engine boroscopes, performance runs, system operations checks, fuel sampling and general condition of aircraft.

“Berlin is a magnificent city to visit,” says Scott. “It is rich with history.”

Cairo, Egypt

Cairo, Egypt

In Cairo, Egypt, Dan Soderstrom, Master Turbine Engine Mechanic, and Bill Walker, Engine Tech Rep, were in the right place at the right time when one project turned into two. While troubleshooting a faulty fuel control unit on a Hawker 800XP, a local Hawker 850XP operator approached them for assistance in fixing leaking starter/generator seals.

Both Dan and Bill said that everyone they had contact with in Egypt were very nice and helpful. Dan hopes to have more opportunity to see the great city if he gets the chance to go in the future.  

Bordeaux, France

St. Emilion, France

Ron Grose, Falcon Tech Rep, attended the annual Falcon 7X Steering Committee meeting in May, in Bordeaux, France, a beautiful old city located in southwestern France along the Garonne River, surrounded by elite vineyards. As a member of the steering committee, Ron and others oversee the development of the scheduled maintenance program for the Falcon 7X aircraft.

One of Ron’s favorite places to visit was the small village of Saint Emilion. It is a 1,700 year old village which was, at one time, surrounded by a large moat used for protection against the warring tribes. This quaint village had narrow cobblestone streets, great restaurants and many wine tasting shops.

Brisbane, Australia

Brisbane, Australia

Duncan Aviation Fuel System Lead Technician, Jon Abrahamsen, took a week long trip to Australia in May. He was dispatched to repair a wing junction plate fuel leak on a Falcon 2000EX.

Jon used one of his days to drive two hours down to Surfers Paradise, a large tourist beach. He also took the train downtown to the south shore for dinner and a couple of local beers. Jon says the area was beautiful.

Shanghai, China

Shanghai, China

Scott Howell, Airframe Lead Mechanic, along with three other fellow Duncan Aviation team members, traveled to Shanghai, China to complete a crucial fix on a Falcon 7X. Getting tools and equipment through customs posed a challenge, but the team stuck to the task, completing the project early.

On the first full day of their trip, the group made their way to The Bund, a mile long street lined with shopping. A local gentleman led them beyond the glamour of these stores to another area. Here, they had the adventure of walking up steep wooden stairs, entering into random people’s homes, where they bargained with local merchants for various items. It is an experience they will not soon forget. Scott describes the city’s transportation as very convenient and clean. The food was not what he would have suspected, but enjoyed trying the various delicacies of the region. 

Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic

Ned Shanks, Engine Rapid Response Tech out of Fort Lauderdale, FL, made a trip to Santo Domingo, Chile, in October to assist a customer. The #1 engine on their Lear 35 would not start. Having seen this squawk many times before, Ned suspected there was an issue with the aircraft’s igniter box and prepared for his trip with this in mind. This was a very important job because the aircraft was an air ambulance and was scheduled to fly a sick infant back to the United States for medical care.

After arriving, clearing Customs and making it to the aircraft, Ned quickly discovered his suspicions were correct, a failed igniter box. As soon as he complied with the removal and replacement of the box, ground runs and required paperwork, they were airborne and on their way back to Ft. Lauderdale. Shortly after arrival back home, the aircraft was prepped and sent out on another rescue mission.

1 Comment Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Learjet, Falcon, AOG, Hawker, Challenger

How to Avoid Common Costly Business Aviation Exchange Core Issues

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, Jun 28, 2011 @ 05:00 PM

Contributed by Stephen Narciso, International Part Sales Rep.

Bendix-Honeywell Starter for a Learjet Starter

The Bendix-Honeywell Starter is a common unit for business aircraft parts exchange transactions.

Often the best option for an operator who is AOG or in critical need of a part is an exchange. Exchanges typically cost more, but offer rapid replacement of a unit rather than the downtime necessary for a repair or overhaul. To avoid additional vendor fees to your core exchange, follow the guidelines below. 

1. Return your exchange core on time

Most vendors give 14 or 21 days to return your core. After this period of time, extended use fees, late fees and even outright billing may apply. Avoid shipping delays by staying in contact with your vendor and providing the proper documentation.

2. Do your exchange before a catastrophic breakdown

Exchange cores not in normal run-out condition are subject to additional billing and even BER (beyond economical repair) billing. Common causes of additional billing include defective stators, fields, armatures, rotors, commutators, shafts, endbells, housings, terminal blocks, fans, solenoids, circuit boards, pistons, etc.

3. Carefully pack exchange core for shipping

Cores are often worth tens of thousands of dollars. If damaged due to poor packing, shippers and insurance will not pay for the damage. This expense falls to the customer.

Duncan Aviation provides extensive repair and overhaul services—including loaners and exchanges—for business aircraft parts, avionics, instruments, accessories and propellers. We maintain a large inventory of business aircraft parts for sale. We also hold more than 70 manufacturer authorizations for avionics, instruments, accessories and propeller units.

For more information about Duncan Aviation’s core exchange service, contact Component Solutions Parts Sales.

Stephen Narciso, serves as an International Part Sales Rep. at Duncan Aviation, specializing in consignment contracts and parts requests. He began working in aviation in 1982.

0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Parts & Accessories, Aircraft Parts, AOG

Duncan Download Celebrates the 100th Blog Post

Posted by Diane Heiserman on Tue, Jun 14, 2011 @ 09:25 AM

Duncan Aviation

 

In March of 2010, the first blog post for the Duncan Download was published. Today, in honor of our 100th blog post and the success of all of Duncan Aviation, we are sharing with you a list of 100 achievements, milestones and down-right cool things to brag about that have occurred at Duncan Aviation since the first post.

Celebrate with us.

Company

  1. 55th anniversary of company founding observed
  2. 168,377 square feet of leather goods purchased for new aircraft interiors at BTL and LNK
  3. 5,457 Component Solutions customers served worldwide
  4. 7,259,089 gallons of Jet A fuel sold at Kalamazoo, MI (AZO), Battle Creek, MI (BTL) and Lincoln, NE (LNK)
  5. 133,864 gallons of Avgas sold at AZO, BTL and LNK
  6. 1,652 aircraft delivered out of maintenance at BTL, LNK and Provo, UT (PVU)
  7. 615 business aircraft maintenance road trips to seven countries from all locations
  8. 160 business aviation conventions and events attended by Duncan Aviation
  9. 1,342 AOG engines returned to service in the field by Engine Rapid Response
  10. 1,810 engines returned to service out of BTL and LNK
  11. 204 TFE731 MPIs performed in LNK
  12. 22 Pratt & Whitney Hot Sections performed in BTL
  13. 126,077 Fed Ex packages shipped and received totaling 3,709,389 pounds
  14. 258 aircraft interior refurbishments performed in BTL and LNK
  15. 93 business aircraft painted at BTL
  16. 141 aircraft Wi-Fi solutions installed per a STC at all locations; majority under a Duncan Aviation STC
  17. 157 in-flight internet solutions installed. Duncan Aviation is the market leader
  18. 30 WAAS/LPV systems installed at all locations
  19. 25 Falcon winglets installed at BTL and LNK
  20. 52 Falcon dry bay mods completed at BTL and LNK
  21. 24 Gulfstream water line ribbon heaters upgrades (ASC 469/173) performed
  22. 63 business aircraft prebuy evaluations performed in BTL, LNK and PVU
  23. 624 aircraft landing gear legs overhauled
  24. 1,851 aircraft batteries overhauled or reblocked
  25. 13,710,410 aviation parts sold
  26. 345,000 Component Solutions customer service calls
  27. 11,360 aviation tools calibrated
  28. 2,355 NDT inspections performed
  29. Secured full contractual logistic support for the Mexican Navy Lear program 
  30. 4 year F20 contract renewed with Royal Norwegian Air Force
  31. 13,800 additional labor hours contracted with Offutt AFB in OMA
  32. 1 year contract renewed with Egyptian Air Force
  33. 2 L60 Flight Inspection Aircraft delivered to the Malaysian Department of Civil Aviation
  34. Signed contract for Egyptian Air Force G3 Hush Kit installation
  35. 62 customer dinners at BTL and LNK
  36. 10 customers serving on Duncan Aviation’s Customer Advisory Board
  37. 10 members of Duncan Aviation’s Board of Advisors
  38. 10 customers to serve on the new Duncan Aviation European Customer Advisory Board

Facilities

  1. 25th anniversary of Avionics Satellite Network observed
  2. 10th engine Rapid Response location opened in Seattle, WA
  3. 4 new Satellite Avionics locations opened
  4. 3rd aircraft maintenance facility opened in Provo, UT, with Bombardier (Challenger/Learjet) Authorization
  5. 1 new paint hangar construction project breaks ground at LNK
  6. AHA Fit Friendly Platinum awarded to BTL and LNK
  7. Regional Health Alliance Workplace Wellness Award presented to BTL
  8. 2010 United Way Corporate Volunteer Company of the Year presented to BTL

Authorizations & Certifications

  1. 30th anniversary of Honeywell Authorized TFE731 Major Service Center
  2. 51 revisions approved for existing STCs
  3. 8 type design amendments approved for existing STCs
  4. 16 new STCs issued
  5. 7 Wi-Fi STCs issued in seven airframes, including the first Wi-Fi STC in the Citation 750
  6. 6 WAAS/LPV STCs issued, including the first Learjet 31A, the first Honeywell NZ-2000 FMS in a Falcon 900B and Challenger 601-3A
  7. 6 foreign certificates renewed by audit
  8. 5 PMA supplements added
  9. 4 interior alteration STCs issued
  10. 1 FIS STC issued
  11. First iPad integration for Cabin Control in Falcon 900 certified, iCabin service mark earned
  12. PVU named Embraer Authorized Service Facility for Phenom 100, 300
  13. New authorizations added to China CAAC Repair Station Certificate
  14. Named exclusive repair service provider for Avidyne Legacy Display System

Private Flight Services

  1. Launched Safety Management System
  2. 11 aircraft owned, managed and operated
  3. 2,800 flight hours flown by 13 Duncan Aviation pilots
  4. 1,000,000 miles flown by 13 Duncan Aviation pilot

Team members

  1. 20th anniversary of Duncan Aviation Project Manager Services
  2. 10th anniversary of Engine Rapid Response AOG Services
  3. 475 military veterans serving at Duncan Aviation
  4. 312 new Duncan Aviation employees hired
  5. 230 technicians attended OEM factory training for 14 airframe or engine types
  6. 12 Duncan Aviation employees retired
  7. 217 employees volunteered for the 2010 National Special Olympic Games in Lincoln, NE
  8. 35 Duncan Aviation employees employed at least 25 years inducted into Silver Wings Club
  9. 77 babies born to Duncan Aviation families
  10. 15 employees serving on business aviation industry boards
  11. 13 employees qualified in or expanded responsibilities as Unit Members under ODA designation
  12. 20 multilingual representatives located in 14 countries
  13. 1 new European Regional Manager
  14. 2,746 vacation hours donated to fellow coworkers in need
  15. 2,327 items of food donated to local food programs
  16. United Way Corporate Volunteer Company of the year for 2010 (BTL)
  17. $177,981 raised for United Way at LNK, BTL and AZO
  18. Generously supported many other local charities in every community  

Informational Resources

  1. Job status tracking launched for myDuncan.aero
  2. ADS-B Straight Talk book published.
  3. Field Guides published about business aircraft Issues
  4. The Duncan Download Blog launched
  5. “Understanding WAAS/LPV” Video Series launched
  6. 73 Duncan Intelligence articles published
  7. 72% increase in new visits to www.DuncanAviation.aero
  8. Updated company logo designed and introduced
  9. Company video, websites and brochure launched in five languages
  10. Web directory expanded to include profiles of customer contacts
  11. WAAS/LPV calculator launched to demonstrate technology value
  12. Inflight internet system selection tool launched

Additional Service Offerings

  1. Bombardier Global Service capabilities expanded
  2. Phased Interior Maintenance program launched
  3. Interior Program with 14-Day Downtime Guarantee launched for Learjet and Citation models
  4. Chrome-free paint process launched
  5. New avionics capabilities for Avidyne Flightmax indicators, ELTA and Socata ELTs
  6. Earth-friendly interior materials selected for interior refurbishments
0 Comments Click here to read/write comments

Tags: Parts & Accessories, Avionics & Instruments, Avionics Installation, Engine Maintenance, Interior Refurbishment, Paint Refurbishment, AOG

All posts
get_updates_by_email

Subscribe by Email

Browse by Tag

Duncan Download

© 2018 blog.duncanaviation.aero