Duncan Aviation to Add 125,000 Square Feet to Battle Creek, Michigan, Facility
May 17, 2005
BATTLE CREEK, MICH. — Duncan Aviation, a premier aircraft maintenance, modification and refurbishment service provider with major facilities in Battle Creek, Mich., and Lincoln, Neb., is proud to announce expansion plans for the Battle Creek facility.
The expansion, set to begin this month, will add 125,000 additional square feet to the existing 200,000-square-foot facility located at the W.K. Kellogg Airport in Battle Creek. A ground-breaking event is tentatively scheduled for June 7. The expansion is scheduled to be complete by March of 2007.
"As the largest family-owned business aircraft service provider in North America, I am thrilled that we will be able to provide excellent support services for even more business aircraft operators through this expansion," says Aaron Hilkemann, President of Duncan Aviation. "2006 marks Duncan Aviation's 50th year in business and I can't think of a more fitting anniversary celebration than completing a brand new facility that will provide the hangar and shop space for a potential 30% increase in our total capacity."
The expansion will take place in several phases. First, a new maintenance hangar roughly 40,000-square-feet in size will be built. The structure will allow input of some of the largest business aircraft in use today, including Global Express. In addition, a three-story structure will be built for GSE (Ground Support Equipment) storage including a lunchroom and office space. These areas are expected to be completed in April 2006.
In July, work will begin on a new, multi-use paint hangar. This facility will be a roughly 20,000-square-foot, full-service paint facility. The paint hangar is scheduled for completion in the summer of 2006.
In addition, a complete re-arrangement and renovation of all the back shop work areas is planned. This work will begin in August and is expected to be complete by March of 2007.
"Customer demand for our services has been increasing steadily, and space has really become an issue for us," said Bill Prochazka, Executive Vice President and General Manager for Duncan Aviation's Michigan Operations. "This expansion will address our space issues, allow us to meet the needs of our customers and contribute to the overall growth of Duncan Aviation. We are proud to be expanding in Battle Creek and we hope that our growth will have a positive impact on the local economy."
Duncan Aviation-Battle Creek is an aircraft service provider with a 200,000-square-foot facility and 480 employees supporting the aviation needs of business jet operators worldwide. These services include airframe and engine service, avionics installations, interior and paint completions/modifications, avionics/instrument and accessory/propeller repair/overhaul and parts support.
Duncan Aviation currently employs nearly 1,800 aviation experts worldwide. The company is headquartered in Lincoln, Neb., and operates a major service center in Lincoln. Other Duncan Aviation locations include 20 satellite avionics facilities located throughout the United States and Lincoln-based Parts Support Services, a division that sells and consigns general aviation parts to aircraft operators and service organizations worldwide.
( Return to top )













