In a groundbreaking achievement for urban air mobility (UAM), Korean
Air, in collaboration with industry giants Hyundai Motor Company, Korea
Telecom (KT), Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), and
Hyundai Engineering & Construction, has completed the world’s first
comprehensive UAM operations demonstration. This milestone marks the
successful realisation of the first phase of the Korean Urban Air
Mobility (K-UAM) Grand Challenge.
Over five weeks at the Goheung Aviation Test Center in South Jeolla
Province, Korean Air showcased its cutting-edge UAM system. Leveraging a
state-of-the-art 5G aviation communication network, the airline
seamlessly integrated electric vertical take-off and landing (e-VTOL)
aircraft with its proprietary UAM Operation Control System and Traffic
Management System.
During the demonstration, Korean Air rigorously tested its systems in
various scenarios, including both normal and abnormal situations. The
data gathered from these tests will be analysed to further enhance the
safety and efficiency of UAM operations, particularly in high-density
urban environments.
This achievement follows Korean Air’s Memorandum of Understanding
with the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT),
Incheon International Airport Corporation, and the Korea Aerospace
Research Institute (KARI) signed on2 2 February 2023. With continued
engagement in UAM initiatives, Korean Air aims to play a pivotal role in
developing the UAM ecosystem in Korea, working hand-in-hand with
government entities to realise the full potential of urban air mobility.