Korea Airports Corporation, "UAM System Development" in Cooperation with European Agencies

Netherlands National Aerospace Laboratory and UK Urban Airport

Korea Airports Corporation and Hanwha Systems have taken the lead at the 2023 Paris Air Show to develop UAM (Urban Air Mobility) industry vertiport (takeoff and landing site) infrastructure and UAM Traffic Management (UATM) systems.

On the 21st (local time), the Corporation signed a tripartite memorandum of understanding for UAM infrastructure business cooperation with the Netherlands Aerospace Centre (NLR), Europe’s top aerospace research institute. Through this agreement, the Corporation, Hanwha, and NLR will promote the development of core technologies related to the operation and systems of UATM and vertiports, key UAM infrastructure.

(From left) Seongcheol Eo, CEO of Hanwha Systems; Michael Peter, CEO of NLR; Mincheol Jeong, Head of IAM Business Group at Korea Airports Corporation; Hank van Baik, Vice President of Aerospace Operations at NLR, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the MOU.
[Photo by Korea Airports Corporation]

Founded in 1919, NLR is Europe’s most prestigious aerospace research institute. It is participating as a leading organization in the ‘AMU-LED project,’ a UAM demonstration project involving the UK, the Netherlands, and Spain, promoted by the European Aviation Safety Agency as part of Europe’s Future Aviation Framework.

On the 22nd (local time), a letter of intent (LOI) was signed with Urban-Air Port (UAP), a UK-based UAM infrastructure startup. The three parties?Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha, and UAP?plan to jointly review plans to activate the design, construction, and operation of vertiports domestically and internationally, as well as the application of UATM systems when entering the global market.

UAP is a specialized company in building UAM vertiports. Last year, it constructed and began pilot operations of the UAM vertiport Air-One in the UK. It plans to introduce Air-One to 65 major cities in countries including the United States, France, Germany, Australia, and Korea.

(From left) Ricky San, UAP Chairman; Andrea Woo, UAP CEO; Dongwan Yoo, Head of Business, Aerospace Division, Hanwha Systems; Mincheol Jung, Head of IAM Business Group, Korea Airports Corporation, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing the LOI.
[Photo by Korea Airports Corporation]

The Corporation is participating in government-led R&D projects and demonstration projects (K-UAM GC) with the goal of piloting UAM operations by 2025. In particular, it is preparing to build verti-hubs for UAM flights in Seoul and the metropolitan area, as well as vertiports and traffic management operations for regional pilot projects. It is also developing a system for integrated management of conventional air traffic and UAM.

Yoon Hyung-jung, President of Korea Airports Corporation, stated, “Strategic partnerships with leading overseas institutions possessing top capabilities in key UAM fields are the first step for our Corporation’s technology and know-how to be recognized in the global market. We will continue to expand strategic alliances and strive to enhance the competitiveness of Korea’s UAM technology.”

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.