Duncan Aviation to lease hangar space at Provo Airport

PROVO — Duncan Aviation has delayed construction of its new facility at the Provo Municipal Airport, but the company is still pressing ahead with its plans.

Company chairman Todd Duncan announced Thursday that Duncan Aviation will lease 15,000 square feet of a hangar at the airport from Million Air Provo so it can begin operations in Utah by August 2010.

"It is Duncan Aviation's long-term plan and desire to build a nose-to-tail support facility in Provo," Duncan said in a prepared statement.

Provo is moving forward on that plan, too. The City Council last week approved $115,000 toward preparation of the construction site.

Duncan Aviation announced the delay of construction last week, a week after Provo Mayor Lewis Billings made the company a central theme of his hour-long state of the city address. Billings said the company would provide 650 high-paying jobs for the city's economy.

By leasing hangar space, Duncan Aviation will be able to provide airframe and avionics support for business-jet clients by next year. The company plans to begin with a team of 15 to 20 personnel.

— Tad Walch