Korean Air validates its UAM system in world first operations demonstration

Korean Air is working in collaboration with Hyundai Motor Company, Korea Telecom (KT), Incheon International Airport Corporation (IIAC), and Hyundai Engineering & Construction. This demonstration realises a goal set for the first phase of the Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM) Grand Challenge. The demonstration was conducted over five weeks from 11 March at the Goheung Aviation Test Centre in South Jeolla Province.

Korean Air successfully validated its comprehensive urban air mobility (UAM) system by utilising a 5G aviation communication network that links the electric vertical take-off and landing (e-VTOL) aircraft with the UAM operating systems. Leveraging the airline’s operational expertise, Korean Air demonstrated the reliability and effectiveness of its in-house developed proprietary UAM Operation Control System and Traffic Management System. These systems collectively ensure safe and efficient urban air travel.

c: Korean Air

During the demonstration, Korean Air conducted 10 scenarios, including normal and abnormal situations, in which it tested the functionality and performance of the operating systems. The data collected from these scenarios will be analysed to enhance the systems and ensure safe UAM operations in high-density urban environments.

The airline signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT), Incheon International Airport Corporation, and the Korea Aerospace Research Institute (KARI) on 22 February 2023, to test the feasibility of comprehensive UAM operations in Korea. Korean Air will continue to engage in various urban air mobility initiatives, and work to validate and enhance government-established UAM concepts and procedures to develop the UAM ecosystem in Korea.