South Korea Launches Urban Air Mobility Tests in Incheon

Sejong, South Korea - The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport announced on Wednesday that it has begun Phase 2 tests of urban air mobility systems in Incheon's Ara Waterway area.

Two consortia have been designated as demonstration operators.

The K-UAM One Team consists of Korean Air, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Hyundai Motor, KT Corporation, and Hyundai Engineering and Construction.

The K-UAM Dream Team consists of Korea Airports Corporation and Hanwha Systems.

The ministry said the designations were made under the Urban Air Mobility Act.

Phase 1 tests were conducted in Goheung, South Jeolla Province. Those tests examined basic performance in open terrain, according to the ministry.

Phase 2 will test operations in conditions that include aircraft traffic from airports, military airspace, and radio frequency interference, the ministry said.

Helicopters will be used instead of electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles. Tests will examine traffic management systems, vertiport operations systems, and fifth-generation wireless networks, the ministry said.

Simulations of communication failures and Global Positioning System errors will be conducted, the ministry said.

Kim Hong-mok, a bureau director at the ministry, said the tests are intended to establish operational systems before the deployment of aircraft.

The ministry stated that it will utilize test results to develop operational standards.

Further tests with urban air mobility aircraft are planned, the ministry said.