Story ID: 508DuncanNBAA
Duncan Offering NextGen Answers
By: Nigel Moll
Caption: Duncan Aviation is offering a variety of information sources to help aircraft operators decide on upgrades.
Word Count: 639
With the NextGen equipage deadline pointing both barrels at business aviation, Duncan Aviation (Booth N4910) has deployed four of its experts here at the convention to answer questions operators might have about what they need to do to keep their aircraft flying beyond midnight on Dec. 31, 2019.

Through the free seminars it has been presenting this year, Duncan has seen first-hand what operators do and don’t know about equipping their aircraft for ADS-B out and FANS 1/A.

The four experts on hand here in Vegas:

Chris Christianson, an avionics tech rep who has been with Duncan for 16 years, “has nose-to-tail knowledge of every avionics system installed and retrofitted for today’s business jets from the analog systems of the Cessna 550 to the large, digital and fully integrated systems of the Falcon 7X, the G450/550 and Global Express. His experience has involved every facet of avionics installation projects from STC development to standard field approval type installations/modifications with deep levels of integration.”

Mark Francetic, avionics regional sales manager, has been educating operators about NextGen initiatives for two years at more than 20 different venues, is a member of the Honeywell and BendixKing dealer advisory boards and has helped Duncan Aviation develop business plans for approved model list STCs on ADS-B and FANS 1/A retrofit systems on multiple aircraft.

Dennis Kruse has spent eight years installing various avionics systems for Duncan and also worked as an avionics technician in the U.S. Marine Corps.

Melissa Raddatz has three years of experience installing multiple avionics systems and has received formal training on the Falcon 50/50EX and Challenger 300, and on troubleshooting and line maintenance for Dassault’s Primus Epic-based EASy II suite. She has developed service guides for the Falcons on the mandates.

The four experts will be available from 1-3 p.m. Tuesday; 9-11 a.m. Wednesday; and 9-11 a.m. Thursday.

In other news from the Lincoln, Neb.-based company, during the week of October 12 Duncan moved its Teterboro facility into larger quarters within the Landmark FBO on the bustling New Jersey business aviation field. The facility now occupies 1,300 sq ft and is looking to hire two additional qualified technicians to work the second shift (3:30 p.m. to 11 p.m.). “As the busiest corporate airport in the United States, Teterboro serves a number of transient customers–drop-in customers from outside the U.S. whose schedules often have them arriving early in the morning or late at night,” said the company. “Regardless of when they arrive or who the customers are, they often need avionics support, and staffing a second shift will help the Duncan Aviation Teterboro facility better meet all customers’ needs.”

“The new space lets us work more efficiently, and it’s also intended to accommodate future growth,” said facility manager Jeff Glanville. “We’re busy now, and as we add evening and weekend shifts, we’ll be in a better position to meet our customers’ needs.”

Putting its business aircraft expertise to work beyond the traditional arena, Duncan also announced it has signed a five-year contract to maintain the Egyptian Air Force’s Falcon 20s, on which it has been locally managing maintenance and repairs since 1999.

Duncan Aviation’s manager of government and special programs, Dave Shipperbottom, said that in choosing to fly over nearby maintenance companies and bring its aircraft to Duncan Aviation, the Egyptian Air Force “reveals a lot about our relationship with them. All the technicians at the squadron level are great to work with. They know us and we know them.” The first Egyptian Falcon arrived at Duncan’s Lincoln facility on October 20 for a Z-check. The next will arrive this month for a C-check, major corrosion inspection and complete paint.