Knight Aerospace Eyes Stronger Texas–Mexico Partnerships

Knight Aerospace chief of staff calls for clearer communication between manufacturing clusters. 

SAN ANTONIO — Iain Johnstone, Knight Aerospace chief of staff, believes the aerospace manufacturing communities in San Antonio and Mexico should build closer partnerships through regular communication about their needs and capabilities.

Johnstone made that case in an interview during the October 14 MOU signing between the San Antonio Manufacturers Association and INDEX Nuevo Laredo. He said San Antonio manufacturers, particularly those in aerospace, have strong reasons to connect with the industry clusters that have developed in Mexico.

Johnstone’s objective was to establish communication channels that work in both directions. Texas companies need a way to explain what they require from potential Mexican partners, while businesses in Mexico need the same access to manufacturers in the United States. He sees agreements between industry organizations as a way to support those exchanges.

Iain Johnstone sees closer cooperation between Texas and Mexico as an opportunity to strengthen aerospace manufacturing through direct business relationships. “The aerospace clusters that have developed in San Antonio should be partners with those same clusters that have developed in Mexico,” said the Knight Aerospace chief of staff. He emphasized the need for communication that works in both directions, allowing manufacturers to share their requirements and understand each other’s capabilities. For Johnstone, relationships built through organizations such as SAMA can help businesses on both sides of the border identify opportunities to work together.

His comments during the broader meeting provided a company-level example. Johnstone described Knight Aerospace’s work in San Antonio developing equipment and mission systems for military cargo aircraft, including medical modules, troop seating, command-and-control applications and VIP configurations. That work depends on specialized manufacturing and engineering capabilities.

He also discussed engineering resources in Mexico and the company’s exploration of potential partners in Querétaro. As Knight develops more standardized products, he indicated that opportunities to work with outside manufacturing partners could become relevant.

The MOU, signed by SAMA President Dan Yoxall and INDEX Nuevo Laredo President Enrique Morán, gives participating manufacturers a forum to explore such opportunities. INDEX’s presentation outlined a network of export manufacturers supported by training, technical committees and institutional representation.

Johnstone’s focus is on making those connections useful to businesses. Clearer exchanges about production needs, engineering capabilities and supplier requirements can help companies evaluate potential partnerships and strengthen the industrial relationships linking Texas with Mexico.