Duncan Aviation has begun construction on a new business aircraft maintenance, modifications and paint complex at its Provo, Utah, location. Dirt has been moved in place for the ramp base and site preparation has started for the large maintenance and modifications center, which includes an innovative paint facility.
"We have started installing Geopiers, which are deep stabilization piers, and will soon begin pouring footings and foundations," said Bill Prochazka, chief operating officer of Duncan Aviation's Provo location. "If the early winter weather cooperates with those two items, we could be putting up steel this winter."
Building on nearly 45 acres of land at the Provo Municipal Airport, Duncan Aviation will add nearly 275,000-sq.-ft. of buildings with a 222,000-sq.-ft. maintenance and modifications center and a 53,000-sq.-ft. paint facility.
The maintenance and completions facility will have large hangar spaces along with backshop and office space. The new paint structure will have the latest down-draft air flow technology, including automatic monitoring and alarms, to provide the best paint environment possible for aircraft. To increase efficiency, the paint hangar is designed to accommodate multiple aircraft at once, utilizing a two-zone airflow system. With this design, Duncan Aviation paint teams can perform stripping, sanding, painting and detail work on multiple aircraft simultaneously.
The facility, which will cost more than $70 million and is being built by Tectonic Management Group Inc., will allow input of some of the largest business aircraft in use today. The expansion is expected to be completed by the end of 2019.
"Tectonic is proud to continue the tradition of designing and building world-class business jet service centers for Duncan Aviation," said Kevin Larson, a Tectonic architect. "Over the last 18 years, we have completed more than 20 major projects for Duncan Aviation and are excited to be leading the design and construction for this new facility in Provo.
"Provo will be different from other projects in that it is a complete, greenfield project and there is a great deal of site development coordination with the city. We have years of accumulated experience working with Duncan Aviation and have applied that experience to the design of this facility, creating a unique architectural customer experience.
"We are excited to provide Duncan Aviation and its customers with an efficient, state-of-the-art aviation campus."
Duncan Aviation is ready to provide this option to its customers as well.
"We consistently hear from operators in the western United States that they would like to see more investment in a Duncan Aviation location closer to their home base," said Aaron Hilkemann. "The Provo area is the perfect complement to our other full-service facilities in Battle Creek, Mich., and Lincoln, Neb. That is why we initially started our Provo facility.
"The plan has always been to expand that original footprint and build a new facility from the ground up. We are pleased to announce that those plans are now under way, allowing us to meet the upcoming maintenance and completions demands from in the area and around the world."
On Aug. 1, 2010, Duncan Aviation opened its doors in Provo. Since then, the Duncan Aviation Provo team has provided major and minor hourly and calendar inspections, line-level engine and avionics support, and interior work for business aircraft from across Europe, the Pacific Rim and the Americas. Recently, the facility added non-destructive testing capabilities to its repair certificate.
"Seven years ago, 14 Duncan Aviation team members ventured west to start Duncan Aviation's newest heavy maintenance location," Prochazka said. "We were met with enthusiasm and professionalism from every direction, through our discussions with the state, Utah County and Provo City.
"Today we are 40 strong, on our way to 400+. We will be making announcements regarding openings for key positions and will be recruiting internally within Duncan Aviation and externally for a number of positions over the next couple of years. It's an exciting time to be in the business aviation maintenance, repair and overhaul sector, and to be a part of this great company as we provide high quality and responsive service to corporate business jet operators from around the world."
Duncan Aviation has invested more than $208 million in facilities, tooling and new capabilities and more than $53 million in training over the last 20 years.
"We are dedicated to business aviation, our customers and team members and every decision we make is made with them and the future in mind," Hilkemann said.
For more information, call 402/475.2611 or visit DuncanAviation.aero. or https://www.tectonicdesignbuild.com/
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