The Duncan Download Blog: Business Aviation Advice & Observations

 This field guide was the most popular download on DuncanAviation.aero last year.

2010 was a busy year. We fielded countless avionics and paint questions, launched a blog, introduced a series of field guides and beefed up our YouTube channel with some new videos. Here’s a rundown of our most popular resources on DuncanAviation.aero last year.

1. Upgrading to WAAS: Answers From Industry Experts

The WAAS/LPV field guide was our most popular download last year. It addresses common questions from operators, differences between approval processes, discrepancies in upgrade costs and considerations for planning an upgrade.

2. Paint, Maintenance & Turbine Aircraft Value

The runner-up was an aircraft paint field guide, which targets common misperceptions about exterior refurbishments. It addresses the necessity of regular paint maintenance, aircraft market value considerations and criteria for selecting an aircraft paint service provider.

3. Straight Talk About WAAS

This WAAS eBook continued to attract attention last year with its discussion about the importance of WAAS, why it impacts business aviation operators and how it works.

4. Company Video: “Our Work Speaks for Itself”

A four minute video about Duncan Aviation debuted on our YouTube channel last year, highlighting our history, service philosophy, customer observations, capabilities and facility locations.

5. Understanding WAAS/LPV Video Series

Avionics Installation Sales Rep and long-time AEA Advisory Board Member Gary Harpster hosted this five-part WAAS video series based on the presentations he gave across the country last year. The series offers more technical information on legacy interface problems, LPV approaches, GPS signals and operational benefits.

More downloads are planned for release this year, so stay tuned! Additional resources that didn’t make our top five list can be found at www.DuncanAviation.aero/downloads.

Contributed by Christopher Kingley, Founder and CEO, Roundscapes, Inc.

My team and I spend most of our time in the digital media world designing websites, creating online interactive environments and virtual video tours for a wide range of clients including some of the most beautiful golf courses and architecture in the United States. But for the last two years, Duncan Aviation opened our eyes to the world of business aviation.

With unprecedented access, we’ve been witness to their ideals in action filming every angle and discovering firsthand why they are a world leader in business aviation in terms of quality, customer service and technical expertise. We can say without hesitation that every Duncan Aviation team member is an expert in their field and dedicated to nothing short of perfection. Customer after customer that we’ve interviewed all ended up saying essentially the same thing: I trust Duncan Aviation with everything.

At the end of these two years it is abundantly clear to us that Duncan Aviation is the very best at everything they do and are constantly striving to elevate their overall quality and customer service beyond all expectations.

When Duncan Aviation asked me to be a guest blogger and write a post introducing their new corporate video, I felt honored to be given such an opportunity. It speaks volumes about them as a company to invite an industry outsider to help launch such an important message.

We’re so excited to launch the domestic Duncan Aviation video to show others what we’ve learned and share this experience with the world.

Gary Harpster, Duncan Aviation Avionics Sales Rep, concludes Understanding WAAS & LPV video series by answering some important questions about LPV:

• What is it?
• What equipment is required?
• Where are LPV approaches available?

View the complete WAAS/LPV video series at www.DuncanAviation.aero/videos.

Gary Harpster continues the Understanding WAAS/LPV video series explaining how WAAS has far reaching benefits to operators, airports and the overall general aviation operation at large. 

Learn how WAAS changes navigational system accuracy, approaches, flexibility, precision, fuel savings and government and airport costs. Operational benefits and Next-Gen considerations are also discussed.

View the complete WAAS/LPV video series at www.DuncanAviation.aero/videos.

Here I am with Robert Duncan standing next to Dove 1.

It didn't take me long to realize I was a part of something big, bigger than myself, bigger than the company I work for and the community in which I live. This is the opening weekend of the Special Olympics National Games in Lincoln, Nebraska, marking only the second time the National Games have been held in the United States.

The games will officially kick off at the opening ceremony on Sunday, July 18, at the Bob Devaney Sports Center in downtown Lincoln, Nebraska. However, the excitement begins with the first contingency of athletes arriving tomorrow morning at 7:28 a.m. at the Lincoln Airport as part of the Cessna Citation Special Olympics Airlift. For eight hours, 165 Citations will be flying 800+ athletes and coaches in from 28 different states. There will be an aircraft landing every two minutes. Each flight coming in is assigned the "Dove" call sign and given priority handling by air traffic control.

Robert Duncan, Chairman Emeritas of Duncan Aviation, is flying Dove 1 carrying athletes from Ohio in his Citation Mustang (N1RD).

For two years, a small group of dedicated Duncan Aviation team members have worked tirelessly discussing, planning, organizing and implementing plans to make sure the airlift ground support operations go off without a hitch. But Duncan Aviation is not alone. We are only part of a larger team made up of Cessna Aircraft Co., FAA, Lincoln Airport Authority, Lincoln Chamber of Commerce Convention and Visitors Bureau, among a long list of other very important volunteers. Hundreds will be on hand to greet each flight, unload the athletes, handle the 5,600 pieces of luggage and refuel the aircraft. Hundreds more will be welcoming the athletes to the games and cheering them on to victory. 

If you are in Lincoln tomorrow, make plans to stop by and witness what could be one of the most trafficked events in Nebraska history, according to the FAA. If you miss it, don't worry. There will be a second showing, only in reverse when the Dove flights take to the air again to return athletes to their home states.

My part in this whole process has been quite small, minuscule in fact when compared to the magnitude of the entire event and the sheer number of volunteers that have pledged their time and talents to support the games. But it's not about the airlift or the volunteers. It's not about the community support or corporate sponsorship.

It's about the athletes. And that's all it's about.

Gary Harpster, Duncan Aviation Avionics Sales Rep continues the Understanding WAAS & LPV video series.

WAAS is supported by a sophisticated infrastructure across the United States consisting of Wide Area Reference Stations (WRS), Master Stations (WMS) and a terrestrial satellite network. Learn how the WAAS signal interacts with GPS, eliminating inaccuracies and providing precision approach information.

View the complete WAAS/LPV video series at www.DuncanAviation.aero/videos.

Gary Harpster, Duncan Aviation Avionics Sales Rep explains all you need to know about WAAS & LPV for corporate aircraft and what's going on in our industry, covering operations, safety and efficiency benefits.

Business Aviation has another group of letters to add to its alphabet soup of acronyms. WAAS, Wide Area Augmentation System, is an extremely accurate navigation service which utilizes a combination of the Global Positioning System (GPS) satellites and Geostationary Satellites to improve the GPS navigational service. But what is it? How does it work? And will it be where I need it?

Questions about WAAS/LPV? Ask them on the What is WAAS? video page.

View the complete WAAS/LPV video series at www.DuncanAviation.aero/videos.

Gary Harpster, Duncan Aviation Avionics Sales Rep introduces the Understanding WAAS & LPV video series with a brief overview of key topics to consider if your aircraft isn't equipped with WAAS, including legacy interface problems, field approvals, annunciators, NextGen criteria and how to determine if your aircraft is a candidate for an upgrade.

NextGen is the next generation of air traffic control and aviation communication/navigation. WAAS/LPV is the latest in aircraft avionics and will be necessary to meet NextGen criteria. But there are many things you must consider before heading down the road towards this upgrade.

Questions about WAAS/LPV? Ask them on the WAAS Considerations video page.

View the complete WAAS/LPV video series at www.DuncanAviation.aero/videos.

On March 31, 2010, National Air Transportation Association President James Coyne addressed an audience of pilots, FAA, Airport Authority, Duncan Aviation employees and in-house customers in an open forum hosted by Duncan Aviation in Lincoln, Nebraska.

He discussed important issues facing the industry including the necessity of a strong partnership with the Federal Government, the effects of the recession and a robust recovery in 2011.

Mr. Coyne went on to field questions from the audience about TSA beauracy, LASP, user fees, fuel taxes and the fiscal issues facing the United States.

This is part one of a seven part video series. All segments can be view on the Duncan Aviation YouTube Channel.