Duncan Aviation Completes 20th Year in its Turbine Engine Maintenance Facility

After 20 years of service, Duncan Aviation's engine team continues to add new capabilities, tools and authorizations. The company expanded its turbine engine service business in 1999 with a newly remodeled 20,000-square-foot facility to accommodate its rapidly growing Honeywell TFE731 business.

Over two decades ago, the demand for Duncan Aviation engine service work had increased to the point that shop space was a limiting factor. The decision to move to the new facility was an easy one, allowing for continued expansion, improved efficiency and more servicing flexibility. It brought all of the engine service and back shop capabilities into one place, including a consolidated engine-parts inventory, dedicated on-site NDT (nondestructive testing) lab, and a separate room for flow and balance equipment.

But the growth didn't stop there. The Duncan Aviation engine parts inventory continued to expand at such a rate that in 2014, it required a move into its own 10,000-square-foot space. In 2016, the overhaul shop went through another expansion with the addition of a 20,000-lb., thrust-class turbofan engine test-cell and state-of-the-art control room. The NDT and balance and flow rooms added new equipment and authorizations to support both Honeywell HTF and TFE engines.

And still Duncan Aviation’s engine program is not finished growing. “We put a priority on investing in new tooling, training and team members, not only to meet immediate demands but with an eye to the future,” says Duncan Aviation’s Engine Overhaul manager, Scott Stoki.

Stoki goes on to say that even seemingly small investments have large impacts on the shop’s ability to bring added services in-house, which can improve turntimes and provide positive customer experiences. Such is the case with the recent purchase of new shot peen equipment. “We were already able to shot peen fan blades, but the new equipment has a larger capacity and allows us to shot peen fan discs, fan blades, compressor wheels and the impeller wheel after blend repairs.”

Six of the original 15 engine technicians that moved to the new facility 20 years ago are still there. Greg Palensky, Engine Overhaul team leader, is one of them. He has witnessed all of the changes over the years, but there is one thing he says hasn’t changed. “The technology sure has changed, but we have always worked together as one team, pulling our weight and treating everyone like family. That hasn’t changed. It never will.”

In addition to being a Honeywell Authorized Service Facility (HTF7000 Series Minor & TFE731 Heavy), Duncan Aviation is authorized by Pratt & Whitney, GE, Williams International and Rolls Royce to perform a broad spectrum of engine services, including MPI, CZI, HSI and other major maintenance.