This summer, Duncan Aviation’s avionics satellite network celebrates the 25th anniversary of the opening of the first Duncan Avionics shop.
Don Fiedler, business development associate at Duncan Aviation, says the idea for the “satellite” concept came from then-company Chairman Robert Duncan. A friend of his was in the shoe business and owned small shoe stores in several large department stores. This friend was an expert in the retail shoe business and could provide the department store’s customers with more specific, expert attention and service. He saw how this idea might benefit aviation and his avionics customers, who constantly told him they wished Duncan Aviation was closer to their home field.
After some market research, Fiedler began working with Beckett Aviation, a company with several FBOs and some aircraft maintenance but little to no avionics capabilities. Before long, Duncan Aviation was running Beckett Aviation’s avionics shop at Hobby Airport in Houston. The agreement was that if things went well, they would welcome Duncan Avionics into their other locations, like Chicago and White Plains. The rest of the story is now part of Duncan Aviation’s history.
As the business aviation industry changed, Duncan Aviation continued to partner with prominent FBOs at high-volume business aircraft airports. In the early 1990s, Duncan Aviation began a satellite work-away program. These facilities work in conjunction with full-service Duncan Avionics locations to provide avionics line services for operators at airports located near main satellite avionics facilities. Duncan Aviation now has 14 satellite avionics locations and nine work-away avionics locations.
In 2000, Duncan Aviation tweaked the concept with the development of Rapid Response Teams, which positioned engine experts in the field and closer to customers. These teams of engine experts are located near some of the satellite avionics facilities and are able to provide operators with AOG engine service at their location or anywhere in the world if they become stranded. “The Rapid Response Teams have been a tremendous asset to the satellite shops and to our customers,” Fiedler says. “The two teams working together create better service options for our customers.”
For more information: 800-228-1836 or DuncanAviation.aero.
