Garland/DFW Heloplex is a city-owned public heliport in Garland, in Dallas County, Texas, United States. It is used for general aviation and air taxi purposes and is operated by SKY Helicopters. The heliport has no IATA or ICAO designation. The facility is alternately known as the Garland/DFW Heliport, Garland Heliport, or Garland/DFW Heliplex.HistoryIn development since 1985, the facility opened in November 1989, becoming the first municipal heliport in Texas. The project cost about US $2.5 million, with the majority being provided by two Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) grants totaling nearly US $2 million, and the remainder provided by the city of Garland.Despite initial optimism, anticipated shuttle service to Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport and Dallas Love Field never materialized, and the Garland City Council voted on 12 August 1991 to shut down the facility, citing US $40,000 in annual operating expenditures, a lack of future expansion space, and the failure of the heliport's original operator, Garland/DFW Heliplex Corp., to follow through on promises to improve the facility. However, despite a second closure vote on 21 January 1992 and negotiations with an industrial property developer to sell the site, the heliport was ultimately kept open to avert the likelihood that the city would have to repay the initial US $1.5 million FAA construction grant. While negotiations with the FAA and the potential buyer were being conducted, the facility was leased to its second operator, Heli-Tex Inc.
