FORT WORTH, Texas — This article was originally published by our content partners at the Dallas Business Journal. You can read the original article here.
An aviation company is establishing its headquarters at Hillwood's Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport.
AVX Aircraft Co. is locating to 13901 Aviator Way at the development in far north Fort Worth, according to an Oct. 18 announcement. AVX specializes in advanced vertical lift technology and is testing unmanned aircraft systems for military and commercial applications.
The company is bringing its team of 40 engineers and employees to the site, which has about 14,000 square feet of office space and 7,000 square foot prototyping and testing space. The company states it wants to double its workforce within the next year. Current job openings listed on its website include rotor system engineering manager, full-stack software engineer, capture manager and front-end software developer.
"Over the past 18 years, our focus has been on innovative design, and our new headquarters and prototyping shop will give us a competitive edge as we advance technology in our industry," AVX President Kendall Goodman said in a statement. "Our team of highly trained engineers, aviation professionals and former military personnel feel right at home at this aerospace and technology hub that Perot Field provides."
AVX was previously based in Fort Worth. It aims to bring "advanced vertical lift solutions" — imagine the military's V-22 Osprey — to the civilian market, according to its website. AVX struck a deal in June to help Colorado-based XTI Aircraft build a fixed-wing aircraft with vertical takeoff and landing, or VTOL, capability, according to Dallas Innovates.
North Texas is already a hub for aviation and defense businesses, with companies such as Lockheed Martin Aeronautics, Bell Textron and American Airlines having major operations in Fort Worth. Texas topped longtime leader Virginia for defense contract spending in 2023, and DFW is a big reason why. According to a new 2023 report, Tarrant County saw $33.5 billion in defense contracting, beating Fairfax, Virginia which had $18.3 billion. Bell Textron is also looking at a site near Alliance to manufacture components for its next-generation helicopter it's developing for the U.S. Army.
The 27,000-acre AllianceTexas is also a hub for testing new technology at the Mobility Innovation Zone, where companies such as Wing have tested commercial drones before launching delivery services in the area.
Bill Burton, executive vice president of marketing and development at Hillwood, expressed excitement about AVX coming to the development.
"AVX's focus on advancement in the aerospace sector makes it the perfect customer to establish a presence at Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport and the AllianceTexas Mobility Innovation Zone," Burton said in a statement.
AVX plans a ribbon-cutting ceremony Oct. 29, where executives may reveal more about the company's expansion and hiring goals.
Editor's note: This story has been updated with more information about AVX Aircraft Co.
