[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Hyewon] Incheon International Airport Corporation announced on the 11th that it was the only domestic institution selected as the final implementing agency in two out of three project areas in the 'K-Drone System Demonstration Project' promoted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport.
The K-Drone System is a drone traffic control system that oversees drone flights, including flight plan approval, location information monitoring, and collision avoidance with surrounding flying objects.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport promoted the project to ensure the safety of drone flights and to discover drone utilization business models, conducting a public contest for three areas with high feasibility and public interest to revitalize the domestic drone industry.
The corporation was selected as the project operator in two of the three areas: 'long-distance and maritime specialization' and 'airport,' and Incheon Airport Corporation is the only institution selected simultaneously in two areas.
Going forward, based on the expertise possessed by Incheon Airport, the corporation plans to design detailed scenarios for the K-Drone System demonstration, implement an environment to verify the drone operation and management system using the 'Seoul Approach Control System' managed by the corporation, and successfully carry out the demonstration project to contribute to the revitalization of the domestic drone industry.
In the long-distance and maritime specialization area, the corporation plans to support promising startups to secure business feasibility and develop in new business areas by forming a consortium with the Incheon-based startup company Pablo Aviation Co., Ltd. during the project execution process.
Kim Kyung-wook, President of Incheon International Airport Corporation, said, "By successfully carrying out this demonstration project based on the expertise of Incheon Airport, we will contribute to the development of the national drone industry and, based on this experience, gradually establish an Urban Air Mobility (UAM) traffic management system, enabling Incheon Airport to lead the next-generation mobility industry."
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