Korea Airports Corporation Succeeds in Korea's First Airport-Linked UAM Phase 2 Demonstration

Korea Airports Corporation announced on the 17th that it had successfully completed the second phase demonstration of airport-linked Urban Air Mobility (UAM) for the first time in Korea on the air route connecting Gimpo Airport, Gyeyang, and Cheongna on the 14th.

The second phase demonstration is part of the "K-UAM Grand Challenge Demonstration Project" led by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, and focuses on verifying safety and the connectivity of aviation information systems in areas close to urban centers. Having succeeded in the first phase demonstration last year, the corporation carried out the second phase demonstration in collaboration with Hanwha Systems and the Air Force.

On the 14th, officials from Korea Airports Corporation, Hanwha Systems, and the Air Force took a commemorative photo after completing the second phase demonstration of airport-linked Urban Air Mobility (UAM) at the Gimpo Airport apron. Photo by Korea Airports Corporation

This demonstration is significant as it marks the first domestic case of linking UAM with an airport and the first instance of joint participation between the military and the private sector. The corporation succeeded in real-time information integration with the military through UAM control and infrastructure systems in the airspace around the airport. The safety of operations was also confirmed, including the ability to respond to unexpected emergencies. Furthermore, the corporation demonstrated its technological capabilities by connecting its self-developed UAM traffic management system with Boeing’s artificial intelligence (AI)-based aviation information system to share flight information in real time.

Meanwhile, as the lead agency of the K-UAM Dream Team Consortium demonstration, the corporation was designated last month by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport as a demonstration operator for urban air mobility traffic management and vertiport (takeoff and landing site) operation and management. Through the first and second phase demonstrations, the corporation is leading the commercialization of K-UAM by verifying national research project outcomes such as UAM traffic management, vertiport operation, and UAM information sharing systems.

Lee Jeonggi, Acting President of Korea Airports Corporation, stated, "The success of this second phase demonstration is a meaningful achievement that confirms the possibility of safe UAM operations linked to airports," and added, "The corporation will continue to do its best to ensure that UAM can be established as a safe air transportation service."