Duncan Aviation Cites Ongoing Education as Important Employment Benefit

With business aviation workforce issues being a hot topic, especially in connection to industry pilot and aircraft technician shortages, Duncan Aviation cites its support for ongoing education as an employment benefit and one way the company is preparing for the potential shortages.

“Duncan Aviation has always been a company that has hired for attitudes and competencies,” says Leon Holloway, Duncan Aviation’s Human Resources manager. “While training and knowledge are incredibly important, especially in the more technical areas, we believe attitude and work ethic are just as critical to success for our team members.”

That is one reason Duncan Aviation has developed not only comprehensive and wide-ranging in-house training classes but a generous tuition reimbursement assistance program and a formal technical apprentice/internship program. These programs allow the company to hire high-potential candidates and put them to work while they complete their Repairman certificates, their Airframe & Powerplant licenses, or even their undergraduate and graduate degrees.

Since starting the formal technical apprentice/internship program, Duncan Aviation has helped 65 team members obtain their Repairman, A&P, Airframe or Powerplant certificates. Last year, six team members earned their associate degrees, seven earned their bachelor’s, and four earned their master’s through Duncan Aviation’s Tuition Reimbursement Assistance Program. Another 29 are currently working on their degrees.  

In addition to formal accredited schooling, Duncan Aviation wants team members with a passion for aviation and flight to be able to pursue those interests, so the company offers some reimbursement money for private pilot licenses and instrument ratings.

Over the last two years, Duncan Aviation has invested just under $12 milllion in training costs for its 2,150 team members. This includes roughly $78,000 annually in tuition assistance.