Duncan Aviation recently broke ground on a 325,000-sq-ft expansion of its 200,000-sq-ft Battle Creek facility. The project is scheduled to be completed in March 2007.

“I am thrilled that Duncan, the largest family-owned business aircraft service provider in North America, will be able to provide excellent support services for even more business aircraft operators through this expansion,” said Aaron Hilkemann, president of Duncan Aviation. “Next year marks Duncan Aviation’s 50th year in business, and I can’t think of a more fitting anniversary celebration than completing a new facility that will provide the hangar and shop space for a potential 30-percent increase in our total capacity.”

The expansion is a multi-phase project, the first phase being a new, 40,000-sq-ft maintenance hangar scheduled for completion in April next year. The structure is designed to accommodate aircraft as large as the Global Express. In addition, a three-story structure will be built for ground support equipment storage and will also include a lunch room and office space.

This month construction begins on a multi-use full-service paint hangar that will cover approximately 20,000 sq ft. It is scheduled for completion next summer.

In addition, a complete rearrangement and renovation of all the back-shop work areas is planned to start next month, for completion by March 2007.