During our visit, we toured Duncan's nearly one million square feet of maintenance, repair, and overhaul facilities, including its world-class paint and interior completion operations—a remarkable showcase of the craftsmanship and professionalism that have made Duncan a leader in business aviation.
One of the highlights of the visit was learning more about Duncan's apprenticeship program, which allows employees to earn their FAA Airframe and/or Powerplant certificates over a two-year period while remaining full-time employees with pay and benefits. As general aviation continues to face a growing shortage of certificated mechanics, apprenticeship programs like Duncan's represent one of the most practical and scalable solutions for developing the next generation of A&Ps.
Over the past seven years, Duncan has helped approximately 60 apprentices earn their Airframe, Powerplant, or combined A&P certificates. Today, the broader program has benefited nearly 300 employees through a combination of apprenticeship, experience-based, and testing pathways.
"Our whole program, as we've gotten familiar with the paperwork and pathways, is approaching about 300 employees," said Darwin Godemann. "Some come from the military, while others went to school but never got tested. We didn't realize there were so many people out there that completed a school program but never crossed the finish line. Whether it's through the experience track, testing track, or full apprenticeship track, we're helping them get there."
As part of the inaugural session, Roxanne Rosado, Airworthy.com's Head of Airworthiness, presented Roxanne's Rules—25 career principles designed to help new (and seasoned) A&Ps build habits centered on professionalism, safety, integrity, accountability, and craftsmanship.
Jon McLaughlin, CEO of TBX, also spoke about the importance of expanding multiple pathways into the profession. While FAA Part 147 schools remain essential, apprenticeship programs such as Duncan's provide a powerful complement by enabling experienced employees to earn their certificates while continuing to work. Together, these pathways can help the industry reverse the long-term decline in newly certificated mechanics—from approximately 20,000 A&P certificates issued annually decades ago to roughly 9,000 today.
For Darwin, bringing in outside voices reinforces the culture Duncan works hard to build every day.
"Having TBX come speak reiterates the seriousness of this profession, the integrity it requires, and all of the things we emphasize every day—doing the right thing, tool control, professionalism, and accountability," he said. "Sometimes hearing those messages from someone outside your normal group has a different impact. What you brought was completely in lockstep with the safety culture that has to exist in aviation."
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