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www.TexasWideOpenForBusiness.com
SEPTEMBER 2011
Office of the Governor | Economic Development & Tourism
Texas Aerospace & Aviation Texas Aerospace & Aviation Texas Aerospace & Aviation Industry Report Industry Report Industry Report
Contents
The Texas Aerospace & Aviation Industry..………………. 1
Civil Aviation …………………………...…………………………….. 11
Government Aviation……………………………………………… 17
Space Travel & Exploration……………………………………… 25
Texas is one of the most important locations for the
global aerospace and aviation industry. As home to
two international airlines and two of the world’s busi-
est airports, as well as NASA’s world-famous Johnson
Space Center, the state is key for many of the largest
global aerospace and aviation companies.
The broad range of industry activities in Texas in-
cludes airplane component manufacturing, advanced
aerospace research, flight training, military aircraft
development, and space exploration. The aerospace
and aviation industry directly employs approximately
200,000 Texas workers at 1,665 establishments. These
employees are typically well paid, earning an average
annual income of more than $62,700.
Through state government support, a highly special-
ized work force, top-tier educational and research in-
stitutions, a geographically central location, and a top-
ranked business climate, Texas continues to maintain
its edge as an aerospace and aviation leader.
The aerospace and aviation industry is defined by two
areas. ―Aerospace‖ is the broader term that includes
activities related to man-made flight in the earth’s at-
mosphere and outer space.
―Aviation‖ is a subset of aerospace, referring to activi-
ties related to man-made flight within earth’s atmos-
phere. Aviation encompasses the design, develop-
ment, production, and operation of aircraft.
Aviation has two major subareas: civil and govern-
mental. Civil aviation includes commercial passenger
services and cargo services as well as general aviation,
which itself includes business, private, and recrea-
tional flights. Governmental aviation encompasses
military services, law enforcement, medical, and edu-
cational flights. Aerospace and aviation both have
strong ties to the defense industry due to their military
applications.
The Lone Star State has a long history of committing
substantial resources to the aerospace and aviation
industry. Some recent initiatives include:
2003: At Gov. Rick Perry’s request, the Texas Legis-
lature established the Texas Enterprise Fund (TEF)
to help attract new jobs and investment to the state.
The fund was reauthorized by the Legislature in 2005,
2007, and 2009. As the largest "deal-closing" fund of
its kind in the nation, the TEF continues to attract
businesses to Texas. The fund is used only as a final
incentive tool where a single Texas site is competing
with another viable out-of-state option. To date,
The Industry
Over the past two years, Texas was the only U.S. state that added aerospace manufacturing jobs.
U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Dec. 2008-Dec. 2010)
State Government Initiatives
The Texas Aerospace & Aviation Industry
1
OVERVIEW
2
nearly $44.5 million from the TEF have been awarded
for aerospace-related projects.
2004: Gov. Rick Perry announced a state industry
cluster initiative to stimulate long-term growth and
economic development in six key areas. Aerospace
and Defense was designated as one of these vital clus-
ters. The Office of Aerospace, Aviation & Defense,
within the Economic Development & Tourism (EDT)
Division of the Office of the Governor, works closely
with decision makers in the aerospace industry, other
governmental agencies, and academic institutions to
coordinate business development efforts.
In 2005, the Texas Emerging Technology Fund
(TETF) was created by the Texas Legislature to pro-
vide Texas with an advantage in the research, develop-
ment, and commercialization of emerging technolo-
gies. TETF recipients have collaborated with or di-
rectly commercialized aerospace-related technologies
from the University of North Texas (UNT), the Uni-
versity of Texas Health Science Center (UTHSC), the
University of Texas (UT) System, and Texas A&M
University. To date, the TETF has invested nearly
$8.9 million in aerospace and aviation-related projects.
Texas Enterprise Fund
Aerospace & Aviation-Related Awards
Company City Award
Triumph Aerostructures (formerly Vought)
Dallas $35,000,000
Raytheon Aerospace & Defense McKinney $1,000,000
Lockheed Martin Houston $5,480,000
Trace Engines Midland $456,000
Rockwell Collins, Inc. Richardson $839,196
Total $44,495,196
Texas Emerging Technology Fund Aerospace & Aviation-Related Awards
Recipient Collaborating
University Award
1st Detect, Inc. UNT $1,800,000
Advitech, Inc. UTHSC $2,500,000
AgileMesh, Inc. UT Dallas $2,000,000
Falcon International, Inc. UT Permian Basin $850,000
StarVision Technologies, Inc. Texas A&M $750,000
Global Contours UNT $950,000
Total 8,885,000
Boeing 787 Dreamliner Lands in Texas
In March 2011, Boeing flew the first of its much-
anticipated 787s to San Antonio, Texas, where Boeing
employees will work to complete “change incorpora-
tions” — commercial modifications including the instal-
lation of electronic and mechanical equipment and up-
grading of software and test systems.
“Boeing San Antonio specializes in modification work
and has the capability and capacity to get the job done.”
- Scott Fisher, 787 Vice-President and General Manager
DALLAS/FORT WORTH METRO
Aircraft Manufacturing: 4.8 times the national average
Aircraft Parts & Equipment Mfg: 3.7 times the national average
WICHITA FALLS METRO
Aerospace Product & Parts Mfg: 9.2 times the national average
Aircraft Engine Manufacturing: 36.7 times the national average
SAN ANTONIO METRO
Aerospace Product & Parts Mfg: 30% above the national average
Aircraft Engine Manufacturing: 2.3 times the national average
BEXAR COUNTY
Aircraft Manufacturing: 90% above the national average
DALLAS COUNTY
Aircraft Parts & Equipment Mfg: 5.7 times the national average
TARRANT COUNTY
Aerospace Product & Parts Mfg: 7.5 times the national average
OVERVIEW
Concentrations of Aerospace Manufacturing Work Force
While not the only areas where relevant workers are
found, the highlighted regions below have a significant
specialization in aerospace manufacturing. The portion
of a region’s work force employed in the aerospace
manufacturing sector is compared to the portion of the
entire U.S. work force employed in that sector. The
regions noted below have a significantly higher per-
centage than the U.S. average.
Work Force in Texas
A structural repair specialist prepares the canopy of a Northrop-Grumman T-38 Talon jet trainer.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Texas ranks
in the top three nationally in aerospace and aviation
manufacturing in terms of capital investments, em-
ployees, value added per employee, and value of
shipments.
In addition to product manufacturing, Texas also
has deep talent pools in air transportation, aircraft
maintenance, airport operation, and flight training.
The following maps and tables provide details.
3
OVERVIEW
DALLAS/FORT WORTH METRO
Air Transportation: 3.1 times the national average
Support for Air Transportation: 90% above the national average
MIDDLE RIO GRANDE REGION
Support for Air Transportation: 9.6 times the national average
TARRANT COUNTY
Air Transportation: 8.9 times the national average
SAN ANTONIO METRO
Support for Air Transportation: 2.2 times the national average
COASTAL BEND REGION
Support for Air Transportation: 4.6 times the national average
HOUSTON METRO
Air Transportation: 2.7 times the national average
Support for Air Transportation: 30% above the national average
CENTRAL TEXAS REGION
Support for Air Transportation: 7.2 times the national average
WICHITA FALLS METRO
Support for Air Transportation: 2.2 times the national average
SAN ANGELO METRO
Support for Air Transportation: 3.6 times the national average
Concentrations of Air Transportation Work Force
Sample of Aerospace & Aviation Work Force in Texas
Sector (& NAICS Code) Employees Establish-
ments Avg. Pay (Annual)
Air Transportation (481) 60,158 489 $66,040
Support Activities for Air Transportation (4881) 21,350 638 $55,380
Aircraft Manufacturing (336411) 34,045 91 $84,344
Other Aircraft Parts & Equipment Manufacturing (336413) 9,087 83 $78,364
Aircraft Engines & Engine Parts Manufacturing (336412) 4,890 52 $53,196
Search, Detection & Navigation Instruments (334511) 7,860 49 $97,292
Satellite Telecommunications (517410) 784 52 $114,712
Flight Training (611512) 3,297 97 $50,752
Source: Texas Workforce Commission and U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Q3 2010)
4
OVERVIEW
Texas public universities and other educational institu-
tions are heavily invested in aerospace and aviation-
related research and development (R&D) leading to
continual discoveries in the field. Texas has 23 col-
lege and university-level aeronautical programs, 36
public high schools offering aeronautical courses, and
13 Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)-approved
aviation maintenance technology schools. A list of
higher education institutions, including public and
private universities and community and technical col-
leges, along with their identified major/program name
and degree/certificate awarded can be found the Ap-
pendix on page 30.
Texas is home to a number of nationally recognized
aerospace and aviation-related educational and R&D
programs. In 2010, state expenditures for conducting
R&D in higher educational institutions in the special-
ized area of aerospace technology totaled $27.9 mil-
lion, according to the Texas Higher Education Coordi-
nating Board. The top spending institutions in this area
were the University of Texas at Austin at $10.8 mil-
lion, Texas A&M University at $4 million, the Univer-
sity of Texas at Arlington at $3.6 million, and Rice
University at almost $2.5 million.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering at The
University of Texas at Austin has come a long way
since granting its first degree in 1927. Space is still a
destination and object of study, but it also has become
the vantage point from which faculty and students
investigate and improve our planet. The Department
of Aerospace Engineering pursues education and re-
search to prepare future engineers for this task—from
mapping deforestation and migration to tracking
weather patterns and earth sensing and imaging. Ad-
ditionally, aerospace engineers investigate current
challenges in atmospheric flight, such as autonomous
aircraft, flexible structures, more efficient propulsion
with lower environmental impact and safer reentry to
the earth's atmosphere from space. The department
offers top-ranked graduate and undergraduate pro-
grams, interdisciplinary studies opportunities, and ac-
cess to research centers and laboratories.
The Department of Aerospace Engineering at
Texas A&M University is a cross-disciplinary pro-
gram with expertise in materials and structures, aero-
dynamics and propulsion, and dynamics and control.
Consistently ranked as one of the top public institu-
tions in the nation, the department features unique
research and testing facilities and faculty who are
world renowned in their fields. The program advances
aerospace engineering education through basic and
applied research. Extensive research areas include
combustion, aeroelastics, hypersonics, diagnostics,
autonomous stability, Unmanned Air Vehicles
(UAVs), robotic systems, spacecraft formation flying,
mechanics of composite materials, multifunctional and
nanomaterials and structural health monitoring.
Education and R&D
In December 2010, SpaceX became the first private company to
successfully return a spacecraft from orbit. The company‘s test
facility is located in McGregor, TX.
For details, see page 26
5
OVERVIEW
The Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
(MAE) Department at The University of Texas at
Arlington is conducting leading-edge research
in transonic, supersonic and hypersonic aerodynamics
and detonation engines, alternative fuels and wind
energy, wireless sensors, rotorcraft, UAV, and thermo-
mechanical characterization of very high temperature
materials and advanced composites. The two research
areas that garner the most research funding and student
participation are detonation engines and hypersonic
aerodynamics. MAE’s newest research area is in
thermo-mechanical characterization of high tempera-
ture materials and composites.
Faculty in Rice University's
Department of Mechanical
Engineering and Materials
Science are involved in a
wide range of research related to aerospace and avia-
tion. Rice laboratories are developing next-generation,
ultra-light structural materials, as well as nanomaterial
composites and "smart" assemblies of nanostructures
that can be controllably manipulated. Other projects
involve advanced aerodynamic simulations, the auto-
mated design of wind tunnel tests, and the analyses of
parachute recovery systems for next-generation space-
craft. Rice has a number of collaborative research
programs with NASA Johnson Space Center, and the
university conducts K12 outreach with 28 high schools
in Houston to encourage students to pursue aerospace
interests and careers.
In addition to Texas university research pro-
grams, state technical and community colleges
produce some of the most sought-after graduates
in the industry.
Texas State Techni-
cal College (TSTC)
is the single largest
provider of aerospace programs in Texas. With
the nation's largest airport owned and operated
by a public educational institution, TSTC in
Waco offers a full range of Federal Aviation
Administration (FAA)-approved programs in-
cludes Aviation Maintenance, Air Traffic Con-
trol, Avionics, Aircraft Dispatch and Aircraft
Pilot Training. The curriculum is bolstered by
its FAA-certified staff and industry support. In
addition to the Waco campus, TSTC also offers
aerospace programs at its Harlingen and Abilene
campuses.
Texas High School “Rocket Science”
The SystemsGo program, developed in 1996 at the Fredericks-
burg High School in Fredericksburg, Texas, offers junior and
senior high school students an opportunity to participate in a
hands-on, project-based engineering and technology program
in aerocience studies. SystemsGo Aeroscience uses rocketry
to promote engineering
studies through re-
search, to develop work
force skills, and encour-
age high school stu-
dents to enter aca-
demic and career paths
in STEM (Science, Tech-
nology, Engineering,
and Math) fields that
lead to careers in the
engineering industries.
Endorsed by NASA, this
nationally-recognized
curriculum is currently
taught at 26 high
schools nationwide.
6
OVERVIEW
St. Philip's Col-
lege, part of the
Alamo Colleges
system in San An-
tonio, Texas, offers traditional college courses for stu-
dents seeking the FAA Airframe and Power Plant Li-
cense, and the Avionics Certificate. The college is
also the sole provider of customized instruction and
development for business and industry. Through its
efforts to partner with industry and the community, St.
Philip’s College has created a nationally-recognized
dual credit aerospace academy. The academy is a
feeder program that provides Texans of secondary
school age with opportunities to earn diplomas, col-
lege certificates in aerospace, and job placement. San
Antonio area aviation employers that partner with the
college and the academy include: Lockheed Martin,
Boeing, Chromalloy, ST Aerospace, Cessna Citation,
M–7, Standard Aero, Gore Design, and the U.S. Air
Force.
From 2002 to the present, the National Science Foun-
dation (NSF) has granted Texas over $21 million in
aerospace and aviation-related awards. Tasked with
keeping the United States at the leading edge of dis-
covery, in addition to funding research in the tradi-
tional academic areas, the NSF also supports ―high-
risk, high payoff‖ ideas.
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Approved Airframe & Powerplant Schools
7
OVERVIEW
NSF awards within the State of Texas in the area of
aerospace and aviation include:
the experimental and theoretical study of high-
speed flames for aerospace propulsion
the study of polymers in thin films and other spe-
cial geometries in the solid states to better under-
stand nanoscale behavior and their role in optimi-
zation of polymer properties in nanoelectronic,
nanolithographic, and nanocomposite applications.
The state is also home to important government aero-
space-related R&D facilities, notably NASA’s John-
son Space Center in Houston (see page 24).
In FY 2009, seven of the top ten recipients of federal
R&D contracts in Texas were aerospace or aviation
related, and their contracts totaled over $4.4 billion.
Federal Aerospace-Related R&D Contracts FY 2009 Top Recipients in Texas
Company Awarded
Lockheed Martin Corporation $3,439,121,847
The Boeing Company $577,170,401
The Boeing Company (sic) $173,298,939
Raytheon Company $95,016,508
M7 Aerospace LP $82,226,606
L-3 Communications Holdings 54,163,768
Barrios Technology, Ltd. 23,099,093
Total $4,444,097,162
*Contract amounts do not include all management fees Sources: The Alliance for Science & Technology Research in America (ASTRA)
Company Example Location Cities Business Description Estimated
Texas Employees
Lockheed Martin Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston Military aircraft, missiles, space vehicles
20,000
L-3 Communications Greenville, Waco, Arlington, Rockwall
Military & commercial aircraft systems
11,000
Bell Helicopter Textron Fort Worth, Amarillo Corporate HQ, helicopters, aircraft parts & components
7,000
The Boeing Company Dallas, Richardson, San Antonio, Houston, El Paso
Commercial & military aircraft 6,000
Raytheon McKinney, Garland, El Paso, Plano
Electronic aircraft components 4,000
Top Aerospace Product Manufacturing Companies in Texas by Number of Employees
8
9
OVERVIEW
Company Primary Location City Business Description Estimated
Texas Employees
AMR Corporation Fort Worth Airline holding company 6,500
Southwest Airlines Dallas Airline 4,800
American Airlines Fort Worth Airline 4,100
United Continental Houston Airline 3,700
ExpressJet Holdings Houston Contract airline 320
Top Passenger Air Transportation Companies in Texas by Number of Employees
For an expanded list of major Texas aerospace and aviation companies, see Appendix, page 28.
On May 2, 2011, Dallas-based Southwest Airlines
grew by 25% when it closed its $1.4 billion pur-
chase of low-cost competitor AirTran Airways,
based in Orlando, Florida. As a result, Southwest
will gain AirTran’s hub in Atlanta, which South-
west currently doesn’t serve, and pick up Air-
Tran’s service to Mexico and the Caribbean.
These routes will be Southwest’s first interna-
tional service in its history. While Southwest will
temporarily operate AirTran as a separate airline,
the brand will eventually be folded, and all
planes will fly under the Southwest banner.
Dallas-based Southwest Airlines acquires competitor AirTran
Civil Aviation
Texas Aviation Inventory Sheet
1,625 private-use landing sites
395 public-use landing sites
• 27 commercial service airports
• 106 community service airports
• 67 business/corporate airports
• 68 basic service airports
• 24 reliever airports
• 2 heliports
30,784 registered aircraft
• 17,692 individually registered
• 9,325 corporate aircraft
• 3,394 partnership/co-owner registered
• 373 military/government registered
47,949 FAA certified pilots
35,718 FAA certified mechanics and repairmen
7,794 FAA certified flight instructors
Sources: Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT) and
Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
Overview
The geographic size of the state and the distances be-
tween population centers make air travel in Texas a
necessity for many businesses. Texas airports serve as
the base of operation for a diverse group of busi-
nesses, including airlines, air cargo companies, fixed
base operators, flight schools, government entities,
retail, and others.
In addition to serving the needs of decentralized in-
dustry and other businesses, aviation offers many op-
portunities for the development and diversification of
the state’s economy. Significant growth in interna-
tional markets places an increased emphasis on facili-
ties that enable Texas to compete in the worldwide
economy.
A study by the Texas Department of Transportation
(TxDOT) Aviation Division estimated the economic
impacts of the state’s general aviation sector in 2005
at $8.7 billion and the commercial aviation service
sector at $40.1 billion, for a total economic impact of
$48.8 billion. In Site Selection Magazine’s 2010 sur-
vey of corporate CEOs regarding business location
decisions, access to a major airport was identified as a
key location factor by half of all respondents.
While most small and medium-sized cities do not at-
tract commercial air service due to the limited market
represented, these same cities are choice locations for
new business development and expansion of existing
businesses, according to TxDOT. Communities not
expected to attract scheduled commercial service or
business turbojet aircraft can benefit from air access
by single-engine and multi-engine piston-powered and
turboprop general aviation aircraft. Access by these
types of aircraft is important for agriculture, oil and
gas exploration and production, banking, real estate
development and many other economic activities.
A statewide TxDOT survey of more than 5,000 busi-
nesses indicates that there are numerous additional
General Aviation
10
Dallas/Fort Worth air route is one of the most heavily
traveled in the nation.
Texas is home to six
of the 50 busiest air-
ports in the country,
when measured by
annual passengers
boarded. They include
Dallas/Fort Worth
(No. 4), Houston
George Bush Inter-
continental (No. 7),
Houston Hobby (No.
4 0 ) , A u s t i n -
Bergstrom (No. 43),
San Antonio (No. 47)
and Dallas Love Field
(No. 49). The eco-
nomic activity generated
by over 115 million people traveling through Texas
airports annually plays an important role in the avia-
tion industry in Texas.
Located halfway between the cities of Dallas and Fort
Worth, DFW Interna-
tional Airport (DFW)
offers nearly 1,900
flights per day and
serves 57 million pas-
sengers a year to 146 domestic and 46 international
destinations. Nineteen commercial airlines, including
seven international carriers, serve DFW Airport.
CIVIL AVIATION
Aviation is vital to the state’s agriculture industry
jobs that are reliant on the state’s system of public-
use airports. Many non-aviation businesses in Texas
also depend on the airport system to efficiently move
personnel, equipment, and products. Some busi-
nesses own or charter general aviation aircraft, many
have employees who travel regularly.
Various state and federal agencies use the system of
airports to support their activities including law en-
forcement, natural resource monitoring, aerial map-
ping, and fire control. Many airports support the op-
eration of aircraft that are
used to transport patients to
medical facilities, perform
search and rescue missions,
and monitor traffic.
In addition, airports support a
wide variety of recreational
flying activities such as soar-
ing, parachuting, and flight
training. General aviation
access to the State’s world
class hunting and fishing ar-
eas, many of which are in
remote locations, greatly
benefit these industries.
Texas has 27 airports with commercial operations in
23 major cities. Of these airports, Dallas/Fort Worth
International Airport (DFW Airport) and Houston
Intercontinental each serve more than 20 million pas-
sengers per year, while four additional airports serve
more than 1 million passengers per year (see Map,
page 13).
Texas residents make frequent use of commercial ser-
vice for intrastate and interstate travel. According to
the Air Transport Association (ATA), the Houston-to-
American Eurocopter helicopter used by the oil & gas industry
Commercial Aviation
11
As the No. 4 busiest airport in the U.S. and the No. 8
busiest in the world by passengers, DFW International
reports that it contributes more than $17 billion to the
North Texas economy and supports 300,000 jobs in
the region. More than 27 million passengers boarded
at DFW in 2010. Officials estimate that of those, ap-
proximately 10% were visitors that support the
178,500 tourism-related jobs in the region. Visitor
expenditures from DFW passengers are also responsi-
ble for an estimated $6.5 billion in direct economic
output.
Houston's George Bush Intercontinental Airport
(IAH) and William P. Hobby Airport are part of the
Houston Airport System (HAS).
IAH is the No. 7 busiest air-
port in the U.S. and one of
the 25 busiest in the
world. As a global gateway
with more direct flights to
Mexico than any other U.S. city, Houston is home
to the largest Federal Inspection Services (FIS) facility
in the nation, with the capacity to process 4,500 arriv-
ing passengers per hour. The airport offers non-stop
service to 113 domestic and 66 international destina-
tions, and in 2010, IAH served more than 19 million
boarding passengers. After the 2010 merger of United
Airlines with Houston-based Continental Airlines,
IAH became the largest hub for the new United,
which is now the largest airline in the world. Accord-
ing to HAS officials, the airport indirectly employs
118,000 people and contributes $19 billion to the
Houston economy.
Though serving as the smaller of Houston’s two pri-
mary airports, William P. Hobby Airport (Hobby) still
ranks as one of the 40 busiest in the nation, boarding
more than 4.3 million passengers in 2010. Hobby
offers non-stop service to 34 domestic destinations,
with a majority of the flights operated by low-cost
carriers, such as Southwest Airlines. In 2010, HAS
completed several major projects in a series of $250
million renovations still underway at Hobby’s East
Terminal. The improvements are intended to stream-
line both flight operations and passenger flow.
American Airlines
The world’s fourth largest airline by passengers carried
Along with its regional affiliates, serves approximately 250 cities in over 40 countries
Headquarters: Fort Worth, Texas
Relocated to Texas: 1979
Employees Worldwide: 88,500
Revenue (2010): $22 Billion
Southwest Airlines
The nation’s most profitable low cost carrier
The largest airline in the U.S. based on domestic passengers carried
Headquarters: Dallas, Texas
Founded: 1967
Employees: 35,000
Revenue (2010): $12 Billion
Major Airlines Based in Texas
CIVIL AVIATION
12
CIVIL AVIATION
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA)
served 4.2 million boarding passengers in 2010, pro-
viding non-stop service to 38 destinations. Austin's
airport was ranked the third best
airport of any size in North Amer-
ica and fifth best world-wide
among airports its size, according
to the Airport Council Interna-
tional’s (ACI) 2010 Airport Ser-
vice Quality passenger survey.
Current ABIA expansion plans include making room
for more commercial carriers by expanding the apron
for jet parking, increasing passenger screening capac-
ity by 20%, and construction of a new car rental facil-
ity and public parking garage. All expansion work is
estimated to be completed by 2013. ABIA generates
$2.2 billion in economic activity and employs 3,000
people, according to airport officials.
Located seven miles from downtown Dallas, Dallas
Love Field, is a general-use airport that serves as the
headquarters for Southwest Airlines. The airport has
over 160 Department
of Aviation employees
and approximately
7,850 other individuals
working at the airport in airlines, the Transportation
Security Administration (TSA), car rentals agencies,
and other services, according to airport authorities.
Commercial Airports in Texas
13
Texarkana Regional
Austin-Bergstrom International Airport terminal
San Antonio International Airport terminal
CIVIL AVIATION
As part of the current Love Field Modernization Pro-
gram (LFMP), the airport, which serves more than 3.7
million boarding passengers annually, is undergoing a
$519 million renovation estimated to be completed by
2014. The LFMP renovations include a centralized
terminal with 20 gates, a new lobby, and an expanded
baggage claim area. Additionally, the airport will
more than double the amount of airport concessions
space.
San Antonio International Airport (SAIA) has op-
erated in south Texas for more than 60 years and cur-
rently offers 32 non-stop destinations. More than 3.9
million people flew out of SAIA in 2010.
SAIA recently completed a $635
million capital improvement pro-
gram, which included a $108 mil-
lion, eight-gate terminal facility. A
more efficient central utility plant,
a five-story parking structure, and a
bi-level roadway system were also
part of the improvement project.
Ongoing plans include the extension of a major SAIA
runway.
William P. Hobby Airport terminal DFW International Airport terminal
14
Multimodal Logistics Facilities Connect Air, Road, and Rail
CIVIL AVIATION
Alliance Global Logistics Hub
The Fort Worth Alliance Airport is a public-use airport located at the Alliance Texas logistics hub 14 miles
north of downtown Fort Worth, Texas. Owned by the City of Fort Worth and managed by Alliance Air Ser-
vices, Alliance Airport is the world’s first purely industrial airport. Opened in 1996, the airport covers an
area of 1,198 acres and accommodates air cargo, corporate aviation, and military needs. Features include:
13,000 foot runway to accommodate all types of commer-cial traffic
U.S. Foreign Trade Zone designation
Access to BNSF Railway’s Alliance Intermodal Facility
Direct access to Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe rail lines
Access to US interstate highway I-35W and Texas state highway SH-170
Proximity to Dallas Fort Worth International Airport
Port San Antonio
Port San Antonio’s industrial airport at Kelly Field (SKF) is a master-planned 1,900-acre industrial complex
and international logistics center, centrally located in San Antonio, Texas. Created from the former Kelly
Air Force Base, the port’s strategic position in North America makes it an ideal international logistics plat-
form for the U.S., Mexico, and South America. Features include:
11,500 foot runway
896,000-s.f.Class A air-cargo terminal with 14 acres of
ramp space
U.S. Foreign Trade Zone designation with U.S. Customs on-
site
Access to three interstate highways (I-35, I-10, and I-37)
350-acres of rail-served warehouses and sites with access
to Union Pacific and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe
(BNSF) rail lines
15
Government Aviation & Defense
Overview
Dyess Air Force Base
Location: Abilene, Texas
Built: 1942
Home to the 7th Bomb Wing and all B1-B combat crew
training
The first military installation in the U.S to be powered
exclusively from renewable wind energy
A B-1B Lancer takes off on a simulated deployment
From aerospace research and flight training, to mili-
tary aircraft development and space exploration,
Texas is an epicenter of government-related aviation.
NASA’s Johnson Space Center in Houston and the 15
active military bases around the state are a testament
to Texas’ importance to the country’s aerospace and
defense initiatives.
The history of military aviation began in Texas in
1910, when the first ever military flights took place at
Fort Sam Houston in San Antonio. Today, Texas is
home to almost 246,000 active duty personnel, reserv-
ists, National Guard personnel, and Department of
Defense (DoD) civilian workers, as well as thousands
of men and women working in defense-related busi-
nesses. In fiscal year 2010, DoD contract expenditures
in Texas totaled more than $30.8 billion, or 5.9% of
all DoD contract spending nationwide.
The defense industry in Texas took off during World
War II, when Texas was home to over 60 military air
fields. Today, with active installations like Fort Sam
Houston, Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, and Naval Air Station
Corpus Christi, Texas hosts more active duty military
personnel than any other state in the country and ranks
third in DoD civilian employment.
Air Force installations in Texas include: Dyess, Good-
fellow, Laughlin, Sheppard, Lackland, and Randolph
Air Force Bases.
Dyess Air Force Base located in Abilene, Texas,
hosts the 7th Bomb Wing (Air Combat Command),
which operates 36 B-1B bombers and is home to all
initial B-1B combat crew training. Dyess’ primary
tenant organization, the 317th Airlift Group (Air Mo-
bility Command), operates 33 C-130 aircraft in sup-
port of airlift requirements worldwide. In April 2010,
the 317th Airlift Group received their first C-130J, the
latest generation of the C-130 Hercules. By 2012 the
Group’s entire fleet will be replaced with a new fleet
of 30 C-130Js.
Laughlin Air Force Base, located six miles east of
Del Rio, Texas, is home to the 47th Flying Training
Wing (FTW), which has a primary mission to provide
specialized undergraduate pilot training for U.S. Air
U.S. Air Force Installations
16
Force active duty, reserve, guard students, and inter-
national allied military pilots. The Wing is equipped
with 237 training aircraft comprised of 51 T1A Jay-
hawks, 100 T-6A Texan IIs, and 86 T-38C Talons.
In addition to Laughlin AFB’s primary pilot training
mission, the Wing also deploys forces worldwide to
support the Air and Space Expeditionary Force Con-
cept.
Laughlin AFB is also home to an Air Education and
Training Command (AETC) and Engine Regional
Repair Center, which performs depot-level engine
overhauls, jet engine intermediate maintenance, and
engine component repairs for J-85 turbojet engines.
Sheppard Air Force Base, situated on 6,158 acres
immediately north of Wichita Falls, Texas, is the larg-
est and most diversified AETC training base.
Sheppard AFB is home to the 82nd Training Wing
(TRW) whose mission is global training to sustain
fighting capability as it conducts technical and follow-
on training for all U.S. Armed Forces.
In addition to the 82nd TRW, the 80th FTW conducts
pilot training at Sheppard AFB for the United States
and 13 allied North Atlantic Treat Organization
(NATO) nations. The 80th FTW trains approximately
Military Installations in Texas
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
17
Sheppard Air Force Base
Location: Wichita Falls, Texas
Built: 1941
Home to the 82nd Training Wing
Produces 55% of all of the U.S. Air Force’s Air Education
and Training Command graduates
Laughlin Air Force Base
Location: Del Rio, Texas
Built: 1943
Home to the 47th Flying Training Wing
Produces about one-third of all new pilots for the U.S.
Air Force each year—267 pilots in 2009
Pilot of a U.S. Air Force T-6 Texan aircraft observes his wingman during flight training.
362nd Training Squadron student airmen perform a fuels landing gear inspection at Sheppard AFB.
250 undergraduate pilots per year, flying over 66,000
sorties annually.
Every aspect of Sheppard AFB’s infrastructure is de-
voted to career training. Training specialties at the
base includes: aerospace propulsion, fuels, and ammu-
nitions; armament and aerospace ground equipment;
aircraft avionics; civil engineering; and Euro NATO
Joint Jet Pilot Training.
In addition to the Air Force, the U.S. Army and Navy
also have an aviation presence within the state of
Texas.
Fort Hood, located near Killeen, Texas, is the Army’s
premier armored force installation and strategic power
projection platform. The base is home to the largest
combat aviation training area in the world. The area
comprises 15,900 square miles of air space beginning
on Fort Hood and continuing west from Bell and
Coryell Counties to Runnels and Tom Green Coun-
ties. This allows U.S. and allied military helicopter
crews to train in a realistic environment that affords
the distances and depths required in combat aviation
operations.
Naval Air Station Fort Worth Joint Reserve Base
(NAS Fort Worth JRB), located in Fort Worth, Texas,
is the largest Joint Reserve Base in the country. NAS
Fort Worth JRB’s mission is to support active duty
personnel while providing an effective, efficient, and
joint training environment to all Reservists and
Guardsmen to ensure the Reserve Force is ready to
serve at home and abroad.
NAS Fort Worth JRB houses more than 40 tenants,
including: Headquarters 10th Air Force (AF Reserve),
301st Fighter Wing (AF Reserve), Marine Air Control
Squadron 24 (MACS 24), Marine Fighter Attach
Squadron 112 9VMFA 112), and the 136th Airlift
Wing of the Texas Air National Guard (TXANG).
Lockheed Martin is also a Base tenant.
U.S. Army and Navy Aviation
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
18
Under the 2005 Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) Joint Basing plan for San Antonio, more than 40 installation sup-
port functions at the Army’s Fort Sam Houston will combine with those at Randolph and Lackland Air Force Bases to form
what is expected to be the largest base organization within the DoD by 2011. Joint Base San Antonio (JBSA) is also now
the City of San Antonio’s central contact for defense support to civil authorities (DSCA) which provides support during
the event of natural or manmade disasters. The Air Force is the lead agency for the Joint Base.
Randolph Air Force Base is one of the most active
flight training installations in the Air Force, and total
base population exceeds 17,000. Randolph AFB’s mis-
sion is training and supporting deployment of combat-
ready personnel.
Tenants include: Headquarters Air Education and
Training Command (AETC), Headquarters Air Force
Personnel Center (AFPC), Headquarters 19th Air Force
(19 AF), Headquarters Air Force Recruiting Service
(AFRS), and the 12th Flying Training Wing.
In addition to these major missions, Randolph AFB also
serves as the home of the Air Force Manpower
Agency, Headquarters Air Force Services Agency, and
nearly 30 other DoD and Air Force tenants.
Lackland Air Force Base has a diverse set of missions.
The base provides combat-ready air personnel through
basic military and technical training in a variety of skills.
Lackland AFB’s missions are vital to the Air Force’s
global success.
Some of the 70 tenant organizations at Lackland AFB
include: 24th Air Force, Air Force Intelligence, Surveil-
lance & Reconnaissance Agency, 59th Medical Wind,
433rd Airlift Wind, 37th Training Wing, AF Information
Operations Center, Defense Language Institute, Inter-
American AF Academy, 149th Fighter Wing, and Na-
tional Security Agency/Central Security Services Texas.
Tenant organizations at Lackland AFB provide heavy
airlift capability for the Air Force around the world and
train fighter pilots for deployment for current military
operations around the world.
A flight engineer student performs a preflight check of a C-5 Aircraft before takeoff at Lackland AFB.
562nd Flying Training Squadron flies the latest T-43 simulator at Randolph AFB.
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
Joint Base San Antonio
Joint Base population: 80,000
Workforce personnel: 8,000
Other personnel: more than 250,000
Annual student population: 138,000
19
Naval Air Station Corpus Christi (NASCC), located
in Corpus Christi, Texas, has a primary mission of
pilot training. Training Wing Four (TW-4) includes
two Primary Training Squadrons and two Advanced
Multi-Engine Training Squadrons. Primary squadrons
train Navy and Marine Corps pilots; advanced squad-
rons support not only Navy and Marine Corps stu-
dents, but also Air Force, Coast Guard, and foreign
students. Almost 200 aircraft, including the T-34, T-
44, and TC-12, support the various training missions.
Between 2012 and 2019, the Joint Primary Aircraft
Training System (T-6 aircraft) will be introduced at
NASCC to replace the T-34. The TW-4 will continue
to be the sole source for Navy and Marine Corps
advanced multi-engine propeller training, provid-
ing training for the Air Force, Coast Guard, and
key foreign militaries.
Naval Air Station Kingsville (NAS Kingsville),
located in Kingsville, Texas, satisfies half of the
undergraduate jet pilot training needs for the U.S.
Navy and Marine Corps.
The primary mission of NAS Kingsville is to sup-
port Training Air Wing Two in training under-
graduate jet pilots for the United States Navy and
Marine Corps. Pilot production is the responsibil-
ity of Training Squadrons VT-21 and VT-22 util-
izing the Boeing T-45 Goshawks. Currently there
are 110 T-45 Goshawks assigned to Training Air
Wing Two.
For decades, Texas has been a hub of innovation in
the aerospace and defense industries and an important
place of business for many top-ranked global aero-
space and defense companies.
Comprised of leading manufactures and suppliers of
military aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aircraft sys-
tems, space systems, aircraft engines, missiles, mate-
riel and related components, services, and information
technology, the state’s aviation-related defense indus-
try drives critical technological development.
Aerospace & Defense Contractors in Texas
The 24th Air Force, the first-ever unit of the U.S. Air
Force designated for the sole purpose of cyberspace
operations, began full operational capability in October
2010. Headquartered at Lackland Air Force Base in San
Antonio, Texas, the new command will provide combat-
ready forces that are trained and equipped to conduct
sustained cyber operations. The 24th Air Force consists
of three wings, two located at Lackland AFB (the 67th
Network Warfare Wing and the 688th Information Op-
erations Wing), and one at Robins AFB in Georgia (689th
Combat Communications Wing). The establishment of
the 24th Air Force will add another 400 personnel to the
San Antonio area and almost $55 billion in cyber-related
investment and employment over five years.
Air Force Cyberspace Unit Boots up in San Antonio
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
20
Lockheed Martin
Lockheed Martin F-35
Top Aerospace & Aviation-Related Defense Contractors in Texas
Company Major Defense Programs Texas Locations
American Eurocopter LUH (Light Utility Helicopter) Grand Prairie
Bell Helicopter Textron V-22 Ospry, AH-1Z, UH-1Y, OH-58D Fort Worth, Amarillo
The Boeing Company KC-135 Refueling Tanker, C-130 Transport Aircraft, C-17 Airlifter
Dallas, Richardson, San Antonio, Houston
EFW F-16 hardware and software Fort Worth
Lockheed Martin F-35 Joint Strike Fighter, F-35 Simulator, F-22 Rap-tor, Orion spacecraft, missiles
Fort Worth, Grand Prairie, Houston
L-3 Communications T-45 Goshawk maintenance, C-17 aircraft support Greenville, Waco, Arlington, Rockwall
Raytheon McKinney, Garland, El Paso, Plano
Rolls-Royce T-45 Goshawk engine maintenance, Jet engine test cell facility (Kingsville NAS)
Houston, Dallas, La Porte
Sikorsky Aircraft UH-60 Black Hawk, CH-53K Fort Worth, Corpus Christi, Beeville
Triumph Aerostructures, Vought Aircraft Industries Div.
Global Hawk UAV wings, UH-60 Black Hawk cabin structures, C-5 Galaxy cargo plan flight control surfaces
Dallas, Grand Prairie
Source: Texas Military Preparedness Commission, company websites
Texas is one of the top 3 U.S. states for aerospace
manufacturing jobs U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (Feb. 2011)
Top global aerospace and defense companies have
business operations in Texas, including BAE Systems,
Boeing, EADS, General Dynamics, Honeywell,
Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Raytheon,
SAFRAN, and UTC.
Lockheed Martin (LM) is a global-security industry
leader and the largest defense company in Texas.
Home to multiple LM operations, Texas has more of
the company’s employees than any state — more than
20,000, including 14,500 employees in Fort Worth,
where the company’s Aeronautics unit is based. A
world leader in the design, R&D, systems integration,
production, and support of advanced military aircraft
and related technologies, Lockheed Martin Aeronau-
tics’ customers include the military services in the
U.S. and allied nations throughout the world.
Company products include the F-35 Lighting II Joint
Strike Fighter, F-22 Raptor, and F-16 Multi-mission
Fighter. Additionally, LM markets air defense prod-
ucts through its Missiles and Fire Control division,
based in Grand Prairie, TX.
American Eurocopter, headquartered in Grand Prai-
rie, Texas, designs, markets, assembles, supports, and
provides training for Eurocopter rotary-wing aircraft
in the U.S. The company is a major provider of heli-
copters for civilian, law enforcement, military, home-
land defense, and other markets. Over the course of 40
years, American Eurocopter has grown to become one
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
21
of the largest helicopter manufacturers in the U.S.
Another helicopter manufacturer with deep Texas
roots, Bell Helicopter, is headquartered in Fort
Worth and operates a plant in Amarillo. Bell Heli-
copter was the first company to obtain certification
for a commercial helicopter and currently manu-
facturers a wide range of aircraft for military and
commercial applications.
Bell manufacturers the U.S. military’s V-22
Osprey in a strategic alliance with Boeing.
These unique tilt-rotor aircraft lift vertically
like a helicopter then fly like an airplane with
twice the speed, three times the payload, and five
times the range of traditional helicopters.
With nearly 6,000 employees in Texas, Boeing has a
significant statewide presence. Boeing is a worldwide
leader in the manufacturing of commercial jetliners
and military aircraft, employing more than 160,000
people across the U.S. and in 70 countries. Addition-
ally, Boeing designs and manufactures rotorcraft,
electronic and defense systems, missiles, satellites,
launch vehicles and advanced information and com-
munication systems, along with providing military and
commercial airline support services. As a major
service provider to NASA, Boeing operates the
International Space Station.
Boeing’s major Texas locations include Dallas, head-
quarters to Aviall, a wholly-owned subsidiary of
Boeing; Richardson, home to Defense & Government
Services; Houston, Boeing’s space exploration head-
quarters; and San Antonio, where aircraft maintenance
and modification work is performed on the 787
Dreamliner, C-17 Airlifter, KC-135 Refueling Tanker
and C-130 transport aircraft.
According to the company, Boeing has more than
1,300 suppliers in Texas, with purchases of over $1.9
billion annually.
American Eurocopter
American Eurocopter UH-72A Lakota
Bell-Boeing V-22 Osprey
Bell-Boeing
L-3 Communications
L-3 Link Simulation & Training
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
22
Government
Recent Texas highlights for L-3 include the establish-
ment of its Link Simulation & Training Air Traffic
Control Academy in Denison, the construction of a
$12 million aircraft hangar in Waco, and major
construction projects in Greenville. L-3 product and
service advancements within the state include the
development and fielding of the first Fusion Weapon
Sight Solution, development of the Network Centric
Collaborative Targeting program, and the October
2009 contract award to provide its Viking 400
Unmanned Aircraft System in support of the U.S.
Special Operations Command’s Expeditionary
Unmanned Aircraft System.
GOVERNMENT AVIATION & DEFENSE
23
Boeing
Boeing C-17
L-3 Communications (L-3) supplies the Departments
of Defense and Homeland Security, other U.S.
government intelligence agencies, NASA, and
aerospace contractors with command and control,
communications, surveillance and reconnaissance
systems, avionics, and training devices and services
products. L-3’s Texas divisions have a long history as
pioneers in the aviation and aerospace industry. For
more than 80 years, L-3’s Link Simulation & Training
has provided leading aviation training solutions. L-3’s
Mission Integration has supported highly missionized
aircraft for the U.S. Air Force and other customers for
more than 60 years. And the L-3 Unmanned Systems
division is producing the next generation of
unmanned aircraft systems. Combined, L-3 operations
within the state employee nearly 11,000 Texans.
Space Travel & Exploration
For the past 50 years, NASA’s Lyndon B. Johnson
Space Center (JSC) in Houston has led the U.S. and
the world through leaps in human discovery. The JSC
was established in 1961 as the Manned Spaceflight
Center and the home of Mission Control Center for the
U.S. human space flight program. In 1973, it was
renamed in honor of the late President and Texas
native, Lyndon B. Johnson.
In its early days, the JSC led the Gemini, Apollo, and
Skylab projects. It currently serves as the lead NASA
center for missions to the International Space Station
(pictured above), and plays an instrumental role in
NASA’s Multi-Purpose Crew Vehicle and Commer-
cial Crew and Cargo programs.
As the JSC has evolved into one of NASA’s largest
research and development facilities, the greater Hous-
ton area has developed into an aerospace hub.
Together, Houston and JSC share an identity around
the world as geographic landmarks of space travel and
scientific breakthrough.
NASA retired its space shuttle fleet in 2011 after 30
years of service to make way for future programs
aimed at sending astronauts to visit an asteroid, then
target missions to Mars.
In early 2011, the JSC established the Strategic Oppor-
tunities and Partnership Development Office dedicated
to expanding the center’s partnerships with industry,
academia, other government agencies and international
organizations.
According to NASA, the JSC and local aerospace con-
tractors directly employ more than 18,000 civil service
and contract workers with an estimated gross payroll
totaling $1.7 billion. With a conservative workforce
multiplier of 1.75, which estimates the indirect jobs
created as a result of the facility, the full economic
impact of the JSC is estimated at 31,500 jobs and a
personal income total of $2.4 billion for the Houston
area. Statewide, NASA estimates an impact of 15,000
additional jobs and a total of $3 billion in business
volume generated by the JSC.
Benefits are also tangible beyond just revenues. Ad-
vances in education and new technologies are an im-
portant part the Johnson Space Center culture. A focus
on innovation and collaboration is evident in the new
relationships established both within and beyond the
aerospace community. Collaborations with JSC can
take many different forms, such as transfers of existing
technologies, cooperative developments to advance
technology, or even shared use of modeling, testing,
and simulation capabilities.
The JSC’s competencies include
a wide-range of capabilities and
skills in engineering and tech-
nology and knowledge of com-
plex systems integration and hu-
man science that can be leveraged by both academia
and commercial industries. In addition, JSC employ-
ees have extensive experience in analysis, testing,
training, and simulation capabilities, and have devel-
oped processes that combine capabilities leading to
NASA Collaboration with Business
The Johnson Space Center
24
The Johnson Space Center’s $1.5 billion complex occupies 1,620 acres
southeast of downtown Houston, near Galveston Bay.
risk-informed decision-making and responsive failure
analysis and recovery.
The Johnson Space Center has always
had partners in industry, academia,
and other governmental and interna-
tional agencies, and a long history of
technology transfer. Today, the center
is opening its unique facilities, with its
more than 50 years of accumulated
knowledge and expertise, seeking to
expand and develop new partnering
and shared business activities that will
benefit the state of Texas.
NASA has produced a long list of
technological spinoffs, including im-
provements in automotive brakes,
advanced welding methods, breast
cancer detection, NASCAR design,
athletic shoes, and swimwear. Through such private-
sector collaborations, NASA’s influence has perme-
ated society.
In 2011, R2, the first dexterous humanoid robot, ar-
rived at the International Space Station. R2 is an ex-
ample of a fruitful collaboration between engineers at
SPACE TRAVEL & EXPLORATION
the JSC and a private partner, in this case General
Motors Corp. (GM). While NASA and GM have dif-
ferent applications for such a robot, they share similar
interests and challenges—the desire to have robots
assist humans, using the same tools as humans, and
with the ability to work safely and productively side-
by-side. By pooling resources and talent, JSC and GM
have been able to advance robotic technology, particu-
larly in controls, sensors, and vision technology, to
support the goal of increased efficiency and effective-
ness in their respective businesses while reducing hu-
man exposure to risks.
The transfer of JSC knowledge to non-aerospace
applications saved lives when many of the same
techniques used to carry out successful space missions
were applied to help the trapped Chilean miners in
2010. As part of the rescue operation, NASA offered
expert advice on medical, nutritional and behavioral
health issues and provided suggestions on how the
rescue cages that would be used to pull the trapped
miners out of the shaft should be designed. It is an
excellent demonstration of NASA’s lessons from
sending astronauts into space translating back to a
better life on Earth.
NASA Johnson Space Center and General Motors R2 robot collaboration
25
Private Space Travel & Exploration
Armadillo Aerospace
Blue Origin
SpaceX
Armadillo Aerospace, headquartered in Heath,
Texas, east of Dallas, is a developer of reusable rocket
-powered vehicles. The company’s goal is to build a
manned suborbital spacecraft for space tourism and
later to offer orbital space flight. In April 2010, Ar-
madillo Aerospace and Virginia-based Space Adven-
tures, Ltd. announced that the companies had entered
into an exclusive agreement. Space Adventures will
market and sell commercial passenger experiences on
Armadillo Aerospace’s future suborbital spaceflight
vehicles. Armadillo Aerospace is a privately held
company founded in 2000 by John Carmack, co-
founder of Mesquite, Texas-based id Software.
Blue Origin’s New Shepard reusable launch vehicle
is a rocket-propelled, vertical take-off, vertical-
landing vehicle designed to be a commercial system
for suborbital space tourism. Flight testing of proto-
type New Shepard vehicles began in 2006 at Blue
Origin’s launch complex on the Corn Ranch near Van
Horn, Texas. The company expects the first opportu-
nities for experiments requiring an accompanying
astronaut to begin in 2012. Blue Origin, based in
Kent, WA, is a privately-funded aerospace company
owned by Amazon.com founder Jeff Bezos.
Space Exploration Technologies (SpaceX) designs,
manufactures, tests, and launches satellites and space-
craft for orbit and cargo transport. The company aims
to eventually shuttle astronauts to and from the Inter-
national Space Station. SpaceX operates extensive
propulsion and structural test facilities in McGregor,
Texas, west of Waco, where the company has con-
ducted stand tests for its Falcon 9, a two-stage, liquid
oxygen and rocket-grade kerosene-powered launch
vehicle. In March 2011, SpaceX expanded the size of
its McGregor rocket facility, and on December 8,
2010, SpaceX became the first commercial company
to successfully return a spacecraft from orbit.
SpaceX, based in Hawthorne, CA, was founded by
Elon Musk, founder of PayPal and Tesla Motors.
SPACE TRAVEL & EXPLORATION
26
Texas Space Grant Consortium
The Texas Space Grant Consortium is a group of 47 Texas
organizations which includes the Office of the Governor, the
Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board, Lockheed Mar-
tin, United Space Alliance, five non-profit entities, and 38
public and private universities. The Consortium’s mission is
to inspire and motivate students at all levels to pursue ca-
reers in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math)
fields, to assist in the professional development of faculty
members and researchers in pursuits aligned with NASA’s
mission, and to engage students in the various fields of space
exploration. Based in Austin, the Consortium operates a
number of scholarship, fellowship, teacher training, and re-
search assistance programs.
SPACE TRAVEL & EXPLORATION
The satellite telecom industry includes companies
primarily engaged in providing point-to-point tele-
communications services by forwarding and receiving
communications signals via a system of satellites. The
Houston metro area has the highest concentration of
satellite telecommunications employment per capita in
the state, followed by Dallas County.
Profiles of two of the top Texas companies in this
sector follow.
CapRock Communications’ satellite network pro-
vides secure corporate networking, internet, voice, and
video, for customers operating in remote and harsh
environments within the energy, government, and
maritime markets. The company is headquartered in
Houston and employs approximately 140 in Texas. In
2010, CapRock was acquired by Fortune 500 telecom
heavyweight Harris Corporation.
TrustComm provides data, voice and video solutions
to customers in government, military, energy, emer-
gency management, and other sectors. Located on
Ellington Joint Reserve Base in Houston, TrustComm
has the distinction of being the only commercial U.S.
satellite network operator with its facilities and infra-
structure located on a military base.
Satellite Telecom Industry
CapRock’s teleport at Houston headquarters
27
Appendix 1: Major Aerospace & Aviation Companies in Texas
Company Location Cities Business Description Estimated Employees
Lockheed Martin Grand Prairie, Fort Worth, Dallas, Houston
Military aircraft, missiles, space vehicles 20,000
L-3 Communications Greenville, Waco, Austin, Rockwall , Arlington
Military & commercial aircraft systems 11,000
Bell Helicopter Textron Fort Worth, Amarillo Corporate HQ, helicopters, aircraft parts & components
7,000
Boeing Dallas, Fort Worth, Richardson, San Antonio, Harlingen, El Paso
Commercial & military aircraft 6,000
Raytheon McKinney, Garland, El Paso, Plano
Electronic aircraft components 4,000
Triumph Aerostructures Dallas Aircraft 2,000
Pratt & Whitney Engine Services, Inc.
Grand Prairie, Addison, Dallas, San Antonio, Wichita Falls
Aircraft engine services 1,300
BAE Systems Inc. Irving, Austin, Ft. Worth, Houston Aircraft parts and equipment, Avionics 1,125
Gulfstream Aerospace Corp. Dallas Aircraft 1,000
Weber Aircraft LP Gainesville Aircraft parts and equipment 900
Bombardier Aerospace Corp. Richardson Aircraft parts and equipment 900
General Dynamics Ordnance and Tactical Systems
Garland Space vehicle equipment 450
Honeywell International Inc. Richardson Aircraft engines and engine parts 450
United Space Alliance, LLC Houston Space research & technology 400
Mooney Airplane Company Kerrville Aircraft 400
Chromalloy Component Services, Inc.
Dallas Aircraft parts and equipment 325
American Eurocopter LLC Grand Prairie Helicopters 250
A.E. Petsche Co. Arlington Aerospace electrical equipment 250
Starr Aircraft Products, Inc. Sherman Aircraft interior textiles 250
Oceaneering Space Systems Houston Aircraft parts and equipment 250
United Technologies Corp. San Antonio Aircraft engines, parts and equipment 250
Luminator Plano Vehicular lighting equipment 230
Coastal Mechanics Company Houston Aircraft parts and equipment 200
Turbomeca USA, Inc. Grand Prairie Repair services 200
Goodrich Aerostructures Inc San Marcos Aircraft parts and equipment 200
Reliant Worldwide Plastics Plano, Gainesville Plastic components for aerospace 150
Engine Components, Inc. San Antonio Aircraft parts and equipment 150
Mayday Manufacturing Co. Denton Aircraft parts and equipment 150
Weatherford Aerospace, Inc. Weatherford Aircraft parts and equipment 140
Cooperative Industries Aerospace
Fort Worth Aircraft engines and engine parts 126
Alliant Techsystems Inc. Fort Worth, Houston Missile electronics, space propulsion units 150
System, Studies & Simulation Killeen Engineering services 110
Albany Engineered Composites Boerne Aircraft parts and equipment 100
MA
NU
FAC
TUR
ING
28
Company Location Cities Business Description Estimated Employees
AMR Corporation Fort Worth Airline 6500
Southwest Airlines Co. Dallas Airline 4800
American Airlines, Inc Fort Worth, Irving, San Antonio, others
Airline 4100
United Continental Houston Airline 3700
Federal Express Corp. Dallas, Grand Prairie, El Paso Air Cargo Services 850
ExpressJet Airlines, Inc. Houston Contract airline 320
Aerovias de Mexico Houston Airline 200
American Jet International Corp Houston Charter & Nonscheduled Services 135
Business Jet Services, Ltd. Dallas Charter & Nonscheduled Services 120
Million Air Dallas Addison Charter & Nonscheduled Services 110
US Airways, Inc. Houston Airline 100
America West Airlines, Inc. San Antonio Airline 100
Universal Weather and Aviation, Inc.
Houston Airport management services - Fueling 750
StandardAero Houston Airport management services 200
ServisAir USA Houston Airport mgmt services (Headquarters) 200
Defense Contract Services Inc Leander Airport management services 140
Boeing Aerospace Operations San Antonio Maintenance & repair services 2,000
Associated Air Center, L.P. Dallas Interior completions, avionics, maintenance 550
ST Aerospace San Antonio Aircraft modification and maintenance 550
Leading Edge Aviation Services Amarillo Aircraft modification and maintenance 250
Kelly Aviation Center San Antonio Maintenance & repair services 450
Dallas Airmotive, Inc. Dallas Maintenance & repair services 425
M7 Aerospace San Antonio, Houston Maintenance & repair services, parts, manufacturing
400
Aviall Inc. DFW Airport Parts distribution, maintenance 225
Regent Aerospace Grand Prairie Maintenance & repair services 225
North American Aircraft Services, Inc.
San Antonio Maintenance & repair services 160
Cessna Aircraft Company San Antonio Maintenance & repair services 150
Honeywell International Inc. Irving Maintenance & repair services 150
Hawker Beechcraft San Antonio Maintenance & repair services 120
Applied Aerodynamics, Inc. Dallas Maintenance & repair services 100
Gore Design Completions San Antonio Aircraft interior design and modification 100
Texas Air Composites, Inc. Fort Worth Maintenance & repair services 100
GE Engine Services McAllen Maintenance & repair services N/A
APPENDIX
AIR
TR
AN
SPO
RTA
TIO
N S
ERV
ICES
M
OD
IFIC
ATI
ON
& M
AIN
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29
Sources: Hoover’s Inc., company websites
MEDICAL DEVICES
Appendix 2: Aerospace & Aviation Higher Education Programs
Private University Program Degree
Baylor University AVIATION SCIENCES BSAVSC
LeTourneau University
AERONAUTICAL SCIENCE: COMPUTER SCIENCE CONCENTRATION BS
DESIGN TECHNOLOGY CONCENTRATION BS
ELECTRONICS CONCENTRATION BS
MECHANICAL SYSTEMS CONCENTRATION BS
MANAGEMENT CONCENTRATION BS
MECHANICAL ENGINEERING BS
Rice University MECHANICAL ENGINEERING—AERONAUTICS MME
MATERIALS SCIENCE BS
MATERIALS SCIENCE MMS
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
Public University Program Degree
Tarleton State University AVIATION SCI-MANAGEMENT BS
Texas A&M University
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING BS
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING MENGR
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING MS
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING PHD
Texas A&M University-Central Texas AVIATION SCIENCE-AVIATION MANAGEMENT BS
Texas Southern University AVIATION SCIENCE AND TECH-AVIATION SCI MGMT BS
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING MS University of Houston
SPACE ARCHITECTURE MS
University of North Texas AVIATION LOGISTICS BS
University of Texas at Arlington
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING BSASE
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING MENGR
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING MS
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING PHD
University of Texas at Austin
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING BSASE
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING MSENGR
AEROSPACE ENGINEERING PHD
30
Community or Technical College
Program Degree/Certificate
Alamo Colleges—St. Philip’s College
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AAS AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN AIRFRAME
AIRCRAFT STRUCTURES MECHANIC CERTIFICATE
AIRCRAFT MECHANIC AIRFRAME CERTIFICATE
AAS AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN POWERPLANT
AIRCRAFT TURBINES MECHANIC CERTIFICATE
AIRCRAFT TECHNICIAN POWERPLANT CERTIFICATE
AVIONICS CERTIFICATE
Amarillo College Vehicle Maintenance and
Repair Technologies
AAS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY - AIRFRAME
AAS AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING
AIRFRAME MECHANIC CERTIFICATE
GENERAL CERTIFICATE
AAS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY - POWERPLANT
POWERPLANT MECHANIC CERTIFICATE
Coastal Bend College Vehicle Maintenance and
Repair Technologies
AAS AIRFRAME AND POWER TECHNOLOGY - AIRFRAME
SPECIALIZED AVIATION TRAINING
GENERAL AVIATION CERTIFICATE
CERTIFICATE OF TURBINE AIRCRAFT TRAINING
AIRFRAME CERTIFICATE
POWERPLANT CERTIFICATE
Del Mar College Vehicle Maintenance and
Repair Technologies
AAS AIRFRAME APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
NONDESTRUCTIVE TESTING TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
AIRFRAME APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
AAS POWER PLANT APPLIED TECHNOLOGY
POWER PLANT APPLIED TECHNOLOGY CERTIFICATE
Houston Community College Vehicle Maintenance and
Repair Technologies
AAS AIRCRAFT MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN - AIRFRAME
AIRCRAFT MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN - BASIC CERTIFICATE
AIRCRAFT MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN - AIRFRAME CERTIFICATE
AAS AIRCRAFT MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN - POWERPLANT
AIRCRAFT MECHANIC/TECHNICIAN - POWERPLANT CERTIFICATE
Midland College Vehicle Maintenance and
Repair Technologies
AIRFRAME CERTIFICATE
AEROSPACE MANUFACTURING CERTIFICATE
POWERPLANT CERTIFICATE
Paris Junior College Vehicle Maintenance and
Repair Technologies AIRCRAFT STRUCTURAL MECHANICS CERTIFICATE
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AAS AIRFRAME MAINTENANCE/ELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY
Tarrant County College Northwest Campus
AIRCRAFT ELECTRONICS LINE MAINTENANCE CERTIFICATE
AAS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
AIRCRAFT ASSEMBLY/REPAIR CERTIFICATE
AIRFRAME CERTIFICATE
POWERPLANT CERTIFICATE
ESC AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
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APPENDIX
Texas State Technical College Harlingen
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AAS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY-AIRFRAME
ESC AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY- POWERPLANT
Texas State Technical College Waco
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AAS AIRCRAFT AIRFRAME TECHNOLOGY
AIRFRAME MECHANICS TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE
AAS AIRCRAFT POWERPLANT TECHNOLOGY
AIRCRAFT POWERPLANT TECHNICIAN CERTIFICATE
ESC AVIATION MAINTENANCE
AAS AVIONICS TECHNOLOGY
AVIONICS RAMP TESTING CERTIFICATE
Texas State Technical College West Texas
Vehicle Maintenance and Repair Technologies
AAS AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY/COMPOSITES CERTIFICATE
AVIATION AIRFRAME MAINTENANCE CERTIFICATE
ESC AVIATION MAINTENANCE TECHNOLOGY
AVIATION POWERPLANT MAINTENANCE CERTIFICATE
Community or Technical College
Program Award
Source: Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board
APPENDIX
32
Texas & U.S. Aerospace Manufacturing Values (2009)
U.S. Census Bureau Annual Survey of Manufactures
Region Employees Value Added Value of Shipments Total Capital Investments
Texas 57,393 $16.97 Billion $19.48 Billion $374 Million
U.S. 429,777 $99.17 Billion $178.92 Billion $3 Billion
Texas National Ranking #3 #2 #2 #2
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, NAICS category 3364
While Texas accounted for 13% of the U.S.
industry’s workers, the state produced more
than 17% of the indus-try’s total value added
Appendix 3: Aerospace & Aviation Manufacturing Data
Texas at Aerospace and Aviation Trade Events
The State of Texas works to promote the advancement of its aerospace and aviation sector in part by attending industry trade shows and expos around the world. Represen-tatives of the Office of the Governor meet frequently with aerospace industry leaders at various events, including the Paris Air Show in France, the Farnborough Air Show in the U.K., and domestic trade fairs such as AeroTest America.
AeroTest America Expo in Fort Worth, Texas, Nov. 2008
Office of the Governor Economic Development and Tourism
PO Box 12428, Austin, TX 78711 512-936-0101
www.TexasWideOpenForBusiness.com