User:Humbles03/Duncan Aviation, Inc.

Duncan Aviation is largest remaining family-owned, business aircraft maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) company in the world, with a network of more than 30 locations across the United States. The company was founded in 1956. Its newest full-service facility began operations in Provo, UT on August 1st, 2010.

History
Duncan Aviation began in 1956 when Donald Duncan, a pilot and singular businessman, purchased a minority share of an Omaha-based Beechcraft distributorship named Lang Aviation with partners Robert Graf and Carl Lang. Donald sold hundreds of Beechcraft Bonanzas, Travel Airs, Twin Bonanzas, Barons and Twin Beeches.

By 1959, the Lang and Graf had sold their shares to Donald, and in 1963 the business was reorganized as Duncan Beechcraft, Inc. In 1963, a second facility was opened in Lincoln, Nebraska at the then-new Lincoln Municipal Airport. In 1965, the Omaha location was sold to Strategic Air Command (SAC) and the company was renamed Duncan Aviation.

The most impressive deal Donald was noted for was the Learjet Distributorship arrangement in 1963-64. "It is quite possible that Bill Lear would have never been able to develop the world famous Learjet without Donald's backing and ingenuity." Bill Lear sold Learjet to the Gates Rubber Company in 1967, and the newly created Gates Aviation in Denver, CO cancelled all existing US distributorships, including Duncan Aviation. However, Duncan Aviation was named the first Learjet Authorized Service Center in world that same year. Donald continued buying new and used Learjets, and "[u]nder his leadership, the company sold some 450 Learjets, most of these sales being made by Donald Duncan himself." The company maintained a presence in Omaha until 1967, when Donald sold the Omaha operation and the company's headquarters moved to Lincoln.

In 1981, Donald unexpectedly passed away at the age of 58, leaving the leadership of Duncan Aviation to his son, J. Robert Duncan (see Leadership). A telephone was placed in his casket so he could continue doing deals. It was a critical period in the company's history. At the time, the organization was positioned as an aircraft sales company. Interest rates had peaked and the Investment Tax Credit, which had helped compensate for high interest rates, was repealed. Duncan Aviation had a surplus of aircraft in inventory, with more aircraft coming in. The loss of the company's driving force in its sales area made the situation worse. To survive, Robert took the advise of Bob Vlasic, formerly of Vlasic Foods, and established an outside board of advisers that year (see Customer Advisory Board).

With this guidance, Robert transformed Duncan Aviation into a successful aircraft service organization over the course of the early 1980's. During this transformation engine authorizations were acquired, landing gear capabilities were expanded an interior shop was opened and parts consignment began. By 1985, many formerly independent business aviation companies had been purchased by larger corporations while Duncan Aviation continued to grow. In 1985, the company opened its first avionics satellite shop, Duncan Avionics-Houston, at Hobby Airport in Houston, Texas. By 1986, aircraft service revenue had surpassed aircraft sales revenue, but the company did not lose sight of its heritage. In 1992, the company began to promote its JetResources service, a then-new acquisition assistance program that helped buyers locate the best aircraft for their needs at a predetermined, flat fee not tied to the purchase price of the aircraft.

Duncan Aviation purchased competitor Kal-Aero in Battle Creek, Michigan in 1998.

In the aftermath of the attack on the World Trade Center in 2001, Duncan Aviation avoided layoffs by watching costs and expenses and staying competitive. The Senior Management Team froze their own wages before freezing wages for the rest of the company. "We were one of the few companies that did not lay off our people and remained strong."

Robert Duncan retired in 2007 at the age of 65, leaving the leadership of Duncan Aviation to his son and third-generation chairman Todd Duncan.

In 2009, an ailing economy and credit crisis, compounded by political and media grandstanding against business aviation, led to a sharp decline in business aircraft operations and global business closures. At Duncan Aviation, wages were cut company-wide for months to hold layoffs at bay. The company's only Reduction in Force in its entire history followed in March, and affected all levels of the company. Todd and the Senior Management Team implemented downtime guarantees and an emphasis on on-time deliveries to capture business, and rebuilt the company's workforce within three years.

Duncan Aviation opened a third service facility in Provo, Utah in August of 2010.

Today, Todd leads the company and its 2,000+ employees, maintenance facilities, satellite facilities and engine Rapid Response Teams (RRTs). Duncan Aviation "is one of the most admired in the aviation industry and the largest remaining that is still family-owned."

Customer Advisory Board
Duncan Aviation's Customer Advisory Board consists of five executives from the public and private sectors, with limited terms.

Leadership
Born August 22, 1922 near Clarinda Iowa, Donald Duncan grew up during the Great Depression, but escaped extreme hardship due to the success of his parents' farm. He married Betty Whipp on September 6, 1941, who had grown up on a farm a few miles away, and started their family. Over the course of his life, Donald owned a farm, a car dealership, a bank and an aviation company. Today, Duncan Aviation is the only company that bears his name.

An avid pilot, Donald used a personal aircraft as a business tool long before the term "business aviation" was used. A pioneer in business aviation, he was "determined to be in the airplane business".

Donald was reputed for his integrity, business acumen and salesmanship, often working 60 to 80 hours a week. Over the course of 1963-64, he negotiated a Learjet Distributorship arrangement with [Bill Lear], which led to a lasting friendship between the two businessmen. It is speculated that the now world-famous [Learjet] might never have been developed without Donald Duncan's backing.

In 1967, Donald left Duncan Aviation to the leadership of his son, J. Robert Duncan, and went to work for an aircraft manufacturer, which "didn't suit him". After a short retirement, Donald returned to work at Duncan Aviation selling airplanes full-time around 1970, while Robert managed the business.

Donald Duncan passed away in 1981 at the early age of 58, leaving the leadership of Duncan Aviation to Robert. Also an avid pilot, Robert's love for aviation began as a child when he would fly with Donald while sitting on his lap. Robert began handling the controls as early as 12 years old. In 1964, Robert spent the entire summer sweeping floors, pumping fuel and answering telephones while rooming in an upstairs office. In 1965, immediately following his college graduation, Robert took on the leadership of the company's Lincoln maintenance facility.

Robert Duncan went on to lead the company from 1981 until his retirement in 2007. The leadership of the company passed to Robert's son, and then-President of Component Services Todd Duncan.

In the tradition of his family, Chairman Todd Duncan is also pilot, and grew up flying with his grandfather to business meetings.