Duncan Aviation recently announced it has moved its Teterboro, New Jersey, Satellite into hangar space provided by long-time Teterboro Airport (TEB) Fixed Base Operator (FBO) Meridian. Duncan Aviation and Meridian will offer complementary services for their mutual customers: Duncan Aviation will continue to provide avionics repair and installation services and has added some airframe-specific services, as well. Meridian will continue to offer the FBO services they have proudly and safely offered for the last 70 years.
For the past year, Duncan Aviation and Meridian have been in discussions, as both companies wanted to continue offering airframe services on the field. Over the last several months, Duncan Aviation has added equipment and staff and gained FAA certification for its new facility and new airframe-specific services.
As a demonstration of the goodwill between the two companies and the continuity of the airframe services offered at TEB, Duncan Aviation hired former Meridian Airframe Technician Michael Kotosky to head its airframe team.
“Mike came to me and said he’d like to help build our airframe shop,” says Manager of the Duncan Aviation Teterboro Satellite Jeff Glanville, “and we feel fortunate to have him. With his expertise, we’re building this from scratch. We’ve been approved by the FAA for airframe work, and our Ops-Specs now reflect that.”
Kotosky really enjoyed working for Meridian, and he’s especially pleased with the new relationship forged by the two companies. Although he’s worked on the same field as Glanville and his team for the last three years, he was nonetheless taken aback by all Duncan Aviation has to offer customers.
“I knew about Duncan Aviation’s avionics abilities, but until I visited the full-service Duncan Aviation facility in Lincoln, Nebraska, I had no idea all of the products and services Duncan Aviation has to offer its customers,” says Kotosky. “I am amazed and grateful for the support I’m receiving from everyone throughout Duncan Aviation, and I’m especially excited for our airframe potential here in Teterboro.”
After attending Stratford School for Aviation Maintenance Technicians in Stratford, Connecticut, and earning his A&P licenses, Kotosky worked at Bombardier’s Hartford Service Center for four years, and then joined the team at Meridian.
Since 1992, Duncan Aviation has provided avionics support at Teterboro, but the team would have to send customers elsewhere for airframe services
“I believe adding airframe services, such as small inspections, Chapter 12 services (oxygen, tire, strut, and fluid services), brakes, and squawk work, among others, is a great convenience for our customers. Combined with the FBO services Meridian offers, we’re now a one-stop shop,” says Glanville. “Less than 40 minutes away, we have our Duncan Aviation team at Morristown, and they can provide full battery support, and we have our Rapid Response Team (RRT) located in Wilmington, Delaware, so they can come here and provide engine support for our customers who need it.”
Kotosky adds, “In the near future, we intend to add equipment and technicians and continue to grow our airframe services for our customers. We have a 1500-hour inspection scheduled on a Global, and the Duncan Aviation RRT will be here to do the engine work. As an added convenience for our customers, billing for Duncan Aviation’s services will go through Meridian, so there will be only one bill to contend with.”
“As our colleagues at Duncan Aviation noted, having them located at our facility will be a great benefit for customers,” said Meridian President Steve Chandoha. “Duncan Aviation’s commitment to excellence mirrors Meridian’s, so we’re very pleased at the additional capabilities we will be able to offer customers.”
Manager of Duncan Aviation’s Satellite Operations Matt Nelson says this new relationship with Meridian will allow both companies to do what they do best as they serve customers in the area.
“Our relationship with Meridian allows both of us to build on our brands and continue to create a strong, local presence,” says Nelson.
