In the early 1980s, Duncan Aviation’s Chairman Emeritus Robert Duncan conceived the idea for Duncan Aviation’s Satellite shops with inspiration from an unlikely source: a department store’s shoe racks.
Duncan was shoe-shopping at the Hovland-Swanson store in Lincoln, Nebraska, with his wife Karen, when he learned from the shoe department manager that the shoe department was not owned by Hovland-Swanson. The manager told him he just rented the space to sell his inventory of shoes.
Duncan found that idea intriguing and he began to consider how the concept that freed Hovland-Swanson from dealing with shoe inventory, attracted customers who were there to buy other items, and gave the store some rent, might relate to business aviation.
Idea Turns Into Action
By 1984, Duncan Aviation had honed its avionics skills, building a reputation that drew customers to Lincoln for avionics work even if it was out of their way. That’s where Robert Duncan found the answer to his shoe question, and he made plans for the company’s Satellite avionics network, which would rent shop space at high-traffic FBO locations where avionics line maintenance could be offered to customers, closer to where they were located. The first Duncan Aviation Satellite launched in Houston, Texas, in 1985.
The idea proved popular with Duncan Aviation’s customers and by 1989, the idea had really taken off. There were 11 shops throughout the country, located in Houston; Fort Lauderdale, Florida; Atlanta, Georgia; Chicago, Illinois; White Plains, New York; St. Louis, Missouri; Santa Ana and San Jose, California; Washington, DC; Scottsdale, Arizona; and Cleveland, Ohio, and a shop in Dallas, Texas, was due to open by the end of the year.
Satellites Today
In the ensuing 40 years, Duncan Aviation has expanded its Satellite network from the originals to today’s 28 shops located throughout the United States (https://www.duncanaviation.aero/locations/#satellites). In addition to avionics line services, the Satellite Shops provide avionics service and support for aircraft owner/operators in times of critical, casual, or remote-location need. The teams at the Satellite Shops around the country are also able to provide popular avionics installations, such as:
- Connectivity Systems
- Cabin Management Systems
- Flight Management Systems
- NextGen components (FANS 1/A, ADS-B, etc.)
- WAAS/LPV
- Flight deck upgrades
- Downloading Data from FDRs/CVRs
- And many more.
Although the concept of placing the company’s talented, experienced avionics technicians closer to Duncan Aviation’s customers hasn’t changed, the scope and breadth of services has. Duncan Aviation Avionics Satellite technicians inspect, install, troubleshoot, service and repair virtually every type of equipment your aircraft might have, or need to have, aboard. They are supported by the company’s full-service avionics and instruments shop located in Lincoln, Nebraska.
The Duncan Aviation Satellite Shops also coordinate any repair, overhaul, exchange, loaner, or part needed for any jet, turbine, piston-powered aircraft, or helicopter.
Manager of Satellite Operations Matt Nelson said, “I’ve worked with Duncan Aviation since 1987, and I’ve been involved with the Satellite System for 27 years. In general, the Duncan Aviation Satellite Shops have the finest avionics talent in the business aviation industry. It’s not just the Satellites, either, but also the main facilities—we’ve cross-pollinated over the years a bit, and that’s helped build and strengthen our culture throughout the entire company.”
This extensive network operates as envisioned, with skilled Duncan Aviation technicians providing avionics repairs and installations at airports near our customers and often even in their own hangars.
“We have worked really hard over the years to maintain focus on Robert’s original vision for the Satellite network,” Nelson said. “Although the dynamics of the business have dramatically changed over the last decade especially, our core mission to meet the avionics needs of our customers has not.”
Single Point of Contact
As the Duncan Aviation Satellite network and the services provided have grown, so has the need for someone to turn to with questions about installations, schedules, available space, and quotes. In December 2024, Mark Winter, the former manager of the Satellite Shop in Houston, Texas, was named Duncan Aviation’s Regional Avionics Sales Manager for the Satellites, and he serves as a single point of contact for customers.
For instance, if you’re looking to install a new Wi-Fi system in mid-to-late summer, Winter knows which Satellite shops have the hangar capacity, labor, and availability to complete the work when it suits your schedule.
“We’ve seen the need for some dedicated sales assistance in order to help customers with more timely solutions for their avionics obsolescence and upgrade needs,” said Nelson. “Sometimes, these things require a quick turnaround in order to meet schedules and match with our availability. This is Mark’s passion, and we are excited to have his help in this capacity.”
As with Robert Duncan’s original vision, this new role was designed to save customers time and money. Instead of calling around to the various Satellites to get quotes and find out which shops have capacity, you simply pick up the phone and call Winter.
“I’m here as a resource to make clients aware of which Duncan Aviation Satellite shops are available to do the work they need at any given time,” said Winter.
Winter’s role also saves the Satellite Managers valuable time. Rather than taking time away from ongoing projects in order to reach out to customers about future work, Satellite Managers can remain in their shops, focused on their teams and their current projects.
Winter summarized, “I’m here to assist customers, to help the Satellite shops fill their schedules, and to change potential customers into lifetime clients.”
Give Mark Winter a call or send him an email to get information, a quote, or a timeline for work at one of Duncan Aviation’s Satellites: +1 402.470.4670 or +1 713.539.7149 or email [email protected].
Growth & Change at Houston Satellite
In the last 40 years, there have been only five Managers at Duncan Aviation’s first-ever Satellite established at the Hobby Airport in Houston. Winter, its fourth, managed the shop for the last 15 years, and Chad Sweppenhiser, its fifth, was promoted to Manager in December 2024, when Winter took on the role of Regional Avionics Sales Manager for the Satellites.
Founded in 1985, the Houston Satellite Shop, then staffed with a solo technician, has outgrown a couple of hangars, grown to more than two dozen team members, and expanded its reach well beyond Texas.
Today, the steady demands of customers keep 20 technicians, a handful of sheetmetal specialists, a couple of inspectors, a tech rep, and an admin assistant busy.
Back in the day, that solo tech worked on Learjets. Today’s techs are installing CMSes (Cabin Management Systems), upgrading flight decks, downloading data from FDRs/CVRs (Flight Data Recorders & Cockpit Voice Recorders), and installing connectivity systems on Globals and Gulfstreams.
Just as the Houston Satellite has grown, so have the others throughout the network. Staffed with qualified, experienced technicians, Duncan Aviation’s customers have visited our Satellites for installations and upgrades.
Consistent Levels of Service
With an extensive network of Satellite facilities, there’s always a danger that levels of service and skill may differ from one shop to the next, but Duncan Aviation has taken several measures to ensure an equal service across its network.
“Our satellite shops operate under the same repair station general operations manual and adhere to the same quality standards,” Nelson said. “We strive to obtain the same culture through our networks as we have in our lead MRO centers in Lincoln, Battle Creek and Provo.”
To help ensure this, Duncan Aviation has developed a successful training program for new employees, including New Employee Orientation training during a week at the Lincoln facility; New Employee Technical Orientation; and Satellite Employee Technical Orientation.
Nelson continued: “We work as one company across the entire country. Satellite locations constantly receive support from the main facilities and other Satellites, making them stronger and able to perform every task that they face regarding avionics maintenance and upgrades.”