Duncan Aviation Tackles BizAv Talent Gap Through High School Outreach

When it comes to building a workforce pipeline for its headquarters in Lincoln, Nebraska, business jet MRO provider Duncan Aviation has realized it needs to take a proactive approach.

“Nebraska has just one in-state, FAA-approved [aviation maintenance technician] program, which means the local talent pipeline is razor-thin by default,” says Jennifer Monroe, human resources manager at Duncan Aviation. “If young people here don’t know aviation careers exist before they start making post-high school plans, they’re likely headed to another trade or out of state entirely. And with Duncan Aviation competing for the same mechanically minded workers as automotive, ag equipment and other skilled trades, getting in front of kids early is essential to building a sustainable workforce for the future.”

One way in which the company is ensuring this type of exposure is through a partnership with Lincoln North Star High School. It worked with the Lincoln school district to create North Star’s Aviation and Technical Education Focus Program and supported its hangar expansion in 2023. Duncan Aviation also helped transport a Cessna 150 to the 13,000 ft.² hangar.

“We also run a work-study program where students who have completed aviation courses at North Star can apply to spend afternoons for a semester on-site at Duncan Aviation, rotating through departments, building relationships with team members and gaining real-world exposure to the industry,” Monroe said.

When Duncan Aviation acquired an extra Honeywell TFE731 engine for training at its Provo, Utah, location, it decided the asset would be a great way to give students at North Star more hands-on experience. Earlier in May, it provided the school with the engine on a permanent loan.

“When we delivered the engine, students were working on small engines in class,” said Darwin Godemann, team leader of Duncan Aviation’s Technical Training Center. “I mentioned that the TFE731 is also a four-cycle internal combustion engine—just like what they were studying. You could see the gears turning as they connected those foundational principles to a turbine engine.”

Amanda Woodward, aviation and technical education leader at the school, said she intends to use the engine to help students practice safety wiring and oscilloscope inspections. “Having an actual aircraft powerplant on a stand in the hangar transforms learning from theoretical to hands-on,” she said. “It’s no longer just a photo on a slideshow; it’s tangible. Students won’t forget the experience of inspecting a turbofan engine in a high school classroom. This gives them further opportunity to use real tools and truly explore whether a career in aviation maintenance is the right fit.”

According to Monroe, Duncan Aviation’s outreach with students at local schools extends beyond Lincoln. The company offers internships and on-site tours across its main MROs in Lincoln, Provo, and Battle Creek, Michigan. The company’s recruiters also spend time connecting with K-12 students through career fairs, tours and other STEM events.

“If we do not encourage them to pursue aviation at a younger age, there will not be a pipeline coming out of colleges to support the demands that we are seeing in the industry,” she said. “The workforce shortage is real, and it’s not going away anytime soon. With a significant portion of our technician population approaching retirement age and demand for business aviation services continuing to grow, we anticipate ongoing hiring needs across all of our facilities—particularly for [airframe and powerplant] certified technicians.”