Hanwha Systems Partners with UK UAM Company Skyports for Urban Airport Technology Collaboration

[Asia Economy Reporter Suyeon Woo] On the 27th, Hanwha Systems signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) for technological cooperation in developing 'air taxi' infrastructure with Skyports, a UK-based urban air mobility (UAM) infrastructure specialist company.

Skyports is a company that builds urban airports for air taxis. In 2019, it created the world's first pilot urban airport for air taxis in downtown Singapore. For actual operations, it is currently negotiating air taxi operation permits and certifications with the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS), the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), and the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA).

Through this MOU, Hanwha Systems plans to accelerate not only aircraft development but also the establishment of urban airports. Earlier, in February last year, Hanwha Systems partnered with Overair, a U.S. personal air vehicle (PAV) specialist company, to jointly develop the air taxi aircraft 'Butterfly.' The aircraft development is scheduled to be completed in 2024, with pilot operations planned on the Seoul-Gimpo route domestically in 2025.

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Since urban airports are located within city centers, selecting locations requires reviewing passenger flow, noise, bird activity, and other surrounding environmental factors. Efficient route design is also a core aspect of infrastructure technology. Maintenance of aircraft, battery charging, and lighting for nighttime operations are all custom-designed. Skyports is recognized as a leading company in all these technologies.

Hanwha Systems plans to provide air traffic control technology necessary for flight safety to Skyports. Both companies will also jointly research seamless technology for "fast and convenient boarding and disembarking like a taxi."

Duncan Walker, CEO of Skyports, said, "The collaboration between Skyports, the world's top UAM infrastructure company, and Hanwha Systems, which possesses advanced technology across the aerospace industry, raises expectations for broader entry into the UAM market."

Last November, Hanwha Systems agreed with Korea Airports Corporation to build a 'Vertihub' for air taxis at Gimpo Airport. Vertihub is a higher-level concept of an urban airport. In January, Hanwha Systems also signed an MOU for UAM commercialization with SK Telecom, Korea Airports Corporation, and the Korea Transport Institute.

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