Battle Creek Duncan Aviation breaks ground on $40 million expansion
With planes buzzing overhead and a Pilatus PC-12 aircraft serving as the backdrop, leaders from Battle Creek Duncan Aviation drove shovels into the ground Friday to mark the start a historic expansion for the company.
The Nebraska-based jet service provider held a groundbreaking ceremony near its apron at the Battle Creek Executive Airport for its $40 million expansion project at the site.
"It means opportunities for so many people," said Andy Richards, executive vice president and chief operating officer for Battle Creek Duncan Aviation. "People who work for us now (can) move up into different positions, leadership positions or technical levels. But it also means opportunities for other people outside Duncan Aviation to bring more to our group of team members.
"We spend a lot of time talking up Duncan Aviation's opportunities in our local high schools and at Western Michigan University's Aviation program. It's all about opportunities."
The expansion is expected to create up to 70 jobs at Battle Creek Duncan Aviation, which is already among the city's largest employers with 635 workers as of October 2021, according to Battle Creek Unlimited.
The previously announced expansion has been years in the making, but was delayed due to the pandemic. It comes amid increasing demand for hangar space to complete airframe, engine, interior, paint and avionics modifications work for business aircraft fleets. Battle Creek was selected over other Duncan Aviation locations in part due to available space at BTL, which is the airport's code.
Duncan Aviation claims to be the world's largest privately owned jet service provider, with 39 facilities across the U.S. The Battle Creek location was established as Kal-Aero Inc. in 1967. The current facility was built in 1992, before Duncan Aviation acquired Kal-Aero in 1998.
The project is receiving assistance from the Michigan Economic Development Corp. via a $488,000 Michigan Business Development Program grant. The Battle Creek Tax Increment Finance Authority and the city of Battle Creek have agreed to offer up to $2.5 million in financial assistance toward the expansion of the public-use apron to complete the project.
Duncan Aviation is partnering with Grand Rapids-based Pioneer Construction on the project, building a 46,000-square-foot hangar − the largest for the company to date − along with an additional 56,000 square feet in two-story wing for storage, back shops and office space. The project is expected to be completed in the first quarter of 2024.
"We are excited to continue to grow with and where the market is headed both in aircraft size, and the number of inspections, modifications and refurbishments that are expected in the future," Richards said. "With this expansion, we increase our ability to attract even more customers to Duncan Aviation's family and enjoy the atmosphere of the Battle Creek community."
Contact reporter Nick Buckley at nbuckley@battlecreekenquirer.com or 269-966-0652. Follow him on Twitter:@NickJBuckley
This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Battle Creek Duncan Aviation breaks ground on historic $40 million expansion
