KAC signs four-party MoU for South Korea UAM project

Korea Airports Corporation (KAC) has signed a four-party memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Hanwha Systems, SK Telecom and the Korea Transport Institute to prepare for urban air mobility (UAM) commercialisation.

The four entities are aiming to commercialise UAM by 2025.

According to this agreement, KAC will be responsible for the construction and operation of UAM Vertiport (takeoff and landing sites) and UAM traffic management.

Hanwha Systems will work on the development of UAM aircraft and ICT solutions for air navigation and traffic control.

SK Telecom will administer the creation of an air traffic communication network and UAM mobility platform service.

Furthermore, Korea Transport Institute will head the research on UAM service demand forecast and public acceptance.

In July 2020, KAC and Hanwha Systems signed an MoU for the joint research and development of UAM aircraft, air navigation, ICT solutions and traffic control.

The project gained full-scale momentum after SK Telecom and Korea Transport Institute came on board.

KAC CEO Chang-wan Son said: “This cooperation will provide a critical juncture for Korea to become a leading country in the global UAM market. KAC will take initiative through concerted efforts, made by the four parties, in developing safe and convenient UAM transportation for the public by 2025.”

UAM has been developed to solve the problem of traffic congestion in cities and involves the use of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft.

The four parties aim to realise the government’s UAM roadmap through collaborative research and development in all associated areas as members of UAM Team Korea, an industry-academia-research council and policy community launched by the Korean Government.