The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

Contributed by Todd Duncan, Chairman

Education is important to Duncan Aviation. We invest a lot in our people and their training and professional knowledge. It is also something that as a family, we embrace personally. I am a strong believer in personal development for myself. My wife, Connie, is a former teacher with Lincoln Public Schools in Lincoln, Nebraska, and is a current member of the Lincoln Public Schools Board of Education. 

In 1998, in honor of my mother’s belief in a strong education, The Karen K. Duncan Scholarship Program was started to help Duncan Aviation team members fund post-secondary education expenses for their kids. All dependent children of full-time Duncan Aviation team members who are entering a two- or four-year college program or technical school are eligible. In the 20 years since we started this program, more than 200 scholarships totaling $1,644,000 have been awarded.

This year, as we do every year, we had so many talented and driven young people apply for the Karen K. Duncan scholarship. I am proud to announce that we have the opportunity to award 21 more scholarships to deserving students. The recipients were carefully chosen by an independent selection committee based on their essay submissions, as well as, academic achievement, citizenship activities, leadership skills and extracurricular and volunteer activities.

To all of the 2017 Karen K. Duncan Scholarship winners, Congratulations! You should all be very proud of what you have accomplished so far in your young lives. On behalf of Duncan Aviation and the Duncan family, I wish you the very best in your future endeavors.

Contributed by Tori Pallas, Wellness Coordinator

In 1999, Duncan Aviation informally started its Wellness Program by opening a fitness room in its Lincoln, Nebraska, facility that was ran and maintained entirely by employees volunteering their time. Then in 2001, staff was added and more formal programming began. Today, Duncan Aviation is a certified Platinum Well Workplace and has two full-time wellness staff members, two state-of-the-art fitness facilities and several wellness programs and services available to all Duncan Aviation employees at every location. There is a culture of wellness that permeates the entire company and encourages healthy lifestyle choices that not only benefit us as team members, but our families and the communities in which we live.

The results of our efforts to promote worksite health and make wellness a priority in the lives of our team members has been recognized and honored many times at both of Duncan Aviation’s full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Michigan, and Lincoln, Nebraska. On October 16 during a luncheon at the WorkWell and Nebraska Safety Council in Lincoln, Nebraska, Duncan Aviation was again awarded the Governor’s Wellness Award at the Grower Level from Nebraska Governor Dave Heineman.

This award recognizes Nebraska employers who have developed successful models for encouraging wellness at work. Factors considered for the award included the level of support for the program by company leaders, assessment of employee needs, wellness plan design, outcomes and benefits and policies supporting healthy behaviors, as well as, providing employees with health education, health screenings and opportunities for exercise.

I had the honor to attend and accept the award on behalf of Duncan Aviation, our Senior Management Team who so generously supports all of the programs, and most importantly on behalf of my team members who are engaged in their wellness and make the workplace an enjoyable and thriving environment.

Duncan Aviation Wellness Programs and Services

The following programs and services are available to Duncan Aviation employees and their spouses:

• Duncan Aviation Family Health Centers staffed by on-site physician assistant and nurse practitioner in both Battle Creek, Michigan, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
• Free health consultations, fitness assessments, group stretching, personal training and nutritional analysis.
• 24 hour, state-of-the-art fitness facilities in both Battle Creek, Michigan, and Lincoln, Nebraska.
• Onsite instructed fitness classes.
• Health club membership reimbursements.
• Flu shots.
• Continuum Employee Assistance Program.
• Free annual health screenings.
• Medical insurance premium discounts based on results from annual health screening for participating in screenings and remaining tobacco free.
• Monthly health and wellness newsletters.
• Wellness intranet website.

Tori Pallas is the wellness coordinator at Duncan Aviation’s Lincoln, Nebraska, facility. She is instrumental in the development and facilitation of the wellness programs and services available to Duncan Aviation’s employees and their families. 

Being a part of a multi-generational family-owned company makes a person well aware of the sacrifice and effort of those who came before him. This lesson is not lost on Todd Duncan, Duncan Aviation’s Chairman and the third generation of the Duncan family to assume the helm.

Todd grew up watching his grandfather, Donald Duncan work hard to create and foster the growth of a small Beechcraft dealership, buying and selling aircraft from the middle of the United States. He then worked for and alongside his father, Chairman Emeritus Robert Duncan, as the company continued to grow and transition from aircraft sales to service maintenance. It was in 2007 when Todd assumed the role as Chairman of Duncan Aviation and took over the leadership of the company. Today, Duncan Aviation is the largest family-owned business aviation MRO in the world, servicing customers around the globe. 

Todd knows that the foundation upon which Duncan Aviation was built began well before his grandfather bought his first aircraft. It started with the innovation and perseverance of a pair of brothers who wouldn’t give up and learn lessons from mistakes and setbacks, until they took to the skies for the very first successful sustained flight.  

On a trip to North Carolina, Todd stopped by the Wright Brothers’ National Memorial in Kill Devil Hills. You can read his personal account of the trip and how aviation’s history has affected his role at Duncan Aviation in the Fall 2013 issue of the Duncan Debrief.

You can read about Donald Duncan and the history of Duncan Aviation is the 50th Anniversary Edition of the Duncan Debrief written in 2006. 

Over 250 high school students and teachers gather to tour Duncan Aviation and learn about aviation career opportunities.

Over 250 high school students, teachers, sponsors and parents gathered this morning at Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska, to explore the unique career opportunities available in the aviation industry. Representatives from Colleges and Universities, Tech Schools, Aviation exhibitors, Aviation Media, Government Agencies and Military organizations were on hand to talk with interested students.

Todd Duncan addressed the group explaining, "to be in the aviation industry is more than a job, it is a career. One that you can be proud of with advancement opportunities limited only by your imagination."

All students in attendance are elible to win scholarships totalling $3000.

Duncan Aviation is the largest family owned aviation maintenance company in the world and employs more than 2,000 aviation professionals around the world. To learn more about the career opportunities at Duncan Aviation, visit www.duncanaviation.aero/careers.

The Lincoln, NE, Chamber of Commerce held their 17^th annual Celebrate Business awards reception on September 5, 2012. The program presented eight business awards celebrating public service, free enterprise, tourism development, entrepreneurship, and environmental responsibility.

Cornerstone Award

Duncan Aviation was presented with the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Cornerstone Award. The Cornerstone Award is presented to the corporate entity whose entrepreneurship has added to the economic base of the Lincoln community and provided opportunity for others to work and live in Lincoln.

Todd Duncan, Chairman of Duncan Aviation, was joined on stage by Aaron Hilkemann, President, and Jeff Lake, Chief Operating Officer, as he received the Cornerstone Award from Lincoln Mayor, Chris Beutler, and Lincoln Chamber of Commerce President, Wendy Birdsall.  

Todd says, “We are honored to be recognized for our achievements. We would not be the company we are today had we not started in Lincoln Nebraska.” Todd contributes this award and the successes of Duncan Aviation to every team member and their dedication. “Greatness in any organization is defined by its people,” says Todd. “This award is a tribute to the people and teams at Duncan Aviation. They are the ones who make it happen.”

Watch the Lincoln Chamber of Commerce video featuring Duncan Aviation and it's contribution to the Lincoln, Nebraska, community.

Contributed by Erin Hart, Corporate Apprentice

At the foundation of any company stands its Core Values, the ideals that guide day-to-day interactions between employees, customers and competitors. They serve as the bedrock upon which decisions are made by the leaders of the company.

A number of years ago, a team of Duncan Aviation employees put to words what they felt made the company so unique. They identified the characteristics that lie at its very core; family atmosphere, strong work ethic, good values and team approach. These Core Values are now established into the heritage of the company. It is not required that employees have them memorized or learned. They were simply a description of who we are and how we do business every day.

Watch as Duncan Aviation team members express why the Duncan Aviation Core Values resonate so much with their teams and how they can be seen in every aspect of their workday. 

Download a copy of Duncan Aviation's Core Values.

Erin Hart is a Duncan Aviation Apprentice working in the Marketing Communications department at the Lincoln Nebraska facility. She began working in aviation in 2007.

Contributed by Bob Tooker, Propeller Sales & Tech Rep

On a trip to Iowa Western Community College last year, I learned from Eugene Jedlicka, Aviation Department Chair, that the Test Club propellers, used on aircraft engines the students rebuild as a part of their studies, were old and not very safe.

When I returned back to my office, I consulted with Scott Lau, Team Leader of Duncan Aviation’s prop shop. We decided we were in a position to help out Western Community College and all future A&P students. After looking through our own inventory and reaching out to other propeller shops, we collected all the necessary parts to complete the project.

The Duncan Aviation propeller shop assembled all the pieces and sent the completed prop to a local airbrush art studio for a custom paint job. The finished product made the blades look riveted together with the logos of both Iowa Western Community College and Duncan Aviation on the blades. Thanks to Duncan Aviation propeller shop for final assembly.

On January 12th, I traveled to Iowa Western Community College to deliver a two-blade and a three-blade propeller to their program. I know that the propellers will benefit many students and our donation was much appreciated.

"We here at Iowa Western greatly appreciate the donation of the two propellers from Duncan Aviation," said Jedlicka. "One will replace an old propeller on one of our engine run up stands while the other will help complete a new engine run up stand that is going to be turbo charged. That is something Iowa Western has never had before. Again we thank the hard working people at Duncan Aviation for taking the time to make these two props appear."

Duncan Aviation's FAA Approved Propeller Repair Station provides extensive aircraft propeller maintenance and overhaul services and we are a leading Raisbeck Dealer, a McCauley Service Center and a Hartzell Top Prop Dealer. We maintaing a large inventory of overhauled turbine propellers for outright exchange sales.

Now through June 30, 2012, get get a free dynamic balancing with each propeller overhaul. Weather restrictions may apply. Click here for more information.

Contributed by Erin Hart, Duncan Aviation Apprentice

Rachel Lussier tests her artistic skills with unconventional subjects, such as a blue and white Falcon 50 at Duncan Aviation-Battle Creek last July.

Photo source: www.rachellussierart.com/
2010/10/19/blue-belly/

A wide array of visitors can be found at Duncan Aviation during any given week. Most are on site for business or education. We openly provide tours to local schools and programs and host time for many vendors and customers on a daily basis. But a very unique visitor landed in the Battle Creek hangars during a week in July 2010. 

Throughout that week Rachel Lussier was stationed near a blue and white Falcon 50. Rachel, an artist originally from the area, was back at Duncan Aviation for a second visit. Several years ago she began a journey to test her artistic, conceptual and technical skills by traveling around, choosing unconventional subject matter for her art. 

Rachel comments, “When approaching a prospective new host/collaborator, there is always a certain level of uncertainty. There is risk, thrill and the challenge, because the outcome is unknown... even for me. Duncan Aviation and staff have been gracious and equally adventurous by participating in these artistic explorations.”

She chooses to work almost always from life and away from her studio. She describes her explorations as “art adventures”.  If interested in learning more about Rachel and her work and to view more photos of her Duncan Aviation explorations visit her website at rachellussierart.com.

Rachel has visited Duncan Aviation twice and we are honored that she finds so much inspiration within our facility. Ironically, the Duncan family themselves are very avid art collectors, so the thought of professional art being created within the facility is rewarding. 

Rachel explains: “my hope is that my host(s) find as much sense of discovery and enjoyment as I do during these on-site work sessions. For me, art is as much about the journey as it is about the final destination. Sharing that journey, and struggle, is one of the enriching byproducts of such a collaboration". 

The employees at Duncan Aviation have definitely enjoyed the visits from Rachel. During her last visit she was even prodded for advice by the nine year old granddaughter of a Duncan team member. Needless to say Rachel’s kindness and love to inspire artistic ability shown through as she ended up setting up a small still life and lending the young girl some of her art supplies.

Rachel’s work is stunning and with each visit she seems to grasp more and more the non-technical beauty of the subjects.  In reflection of Rachel’s last visit, Battle Creek COO and General Manager, Tom Burt stated, “It seems that we all have a love for the art of aviation”. We welcome Rachel to visit Duncan Aviation any time and wish her the best of luck in all her “art adventures” to come.