FORT WORTH, Texas — Perot Field Fort Worth Alliance Airport has long established itself as a pioneer and strives to bring in businesses that have that mindset, too.
"The airport itself was innovative since day one and we're the world's first industrial airport built out of the ground to serve an industrial purpose,” said Christian Childs, president of Hillwood Aviation Companies. “We love partnering with new companies, we love to see them get their feet on the ground here.”
It’s part of the reason they felt AVX Aircraft Co. would be a good fit. The company just relocated its roughly 40 employees to the airport at 13901 Aviator Way with plans to double its workforce in 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.
The company specializes in vertical lift aerospace technology such as air taxis and drones. It will design its prototypes in its new North Fort Worth headquarters which has14,000 square feet of office space and 7,000 square foot prototyping and testing space.
"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."
Childs hinted this is just the tip of the iceberg when you look at the economic boom happening in the area.
“There’s a lot of things on the horizon from back to the autonomous aircraft possibilities,” Childs said. “We've got a little bit of development property still left around the airport adjacent to the airport, so we're marketing that to some prospective users.”
Also in the works are a new bridge and tech to turn the area into a smart port thanks in part to an $80 million federal grant to better link the airport, to rail at BNSF Alliance Intermodal Facility and I-35 W.
“My husband, myself, and my children moved out in Haslet in 2000 and it was pretty much nothing over here,” said one resident. “Now, oh my god, there’s so much growth.”
Two weeks ago Dicks Sporting Goods broke ground on a new distribution center in the area. Continental Tire also announced plans to build its first US tire distribution center in Alliance.
“It's gonna continue to grow, nothing is gonna make this area not grow there's so much land here,” said Sydney Britton. “There's gonna be more houses, there's gonna be more apartments and that means more traffic.”
All things that come in a prime spot where businesses looking for a place to take off are moving like AllianceTexas.