The government is accelerating preparations for the commercialization of advanced air transportation by 2030. In addition to embarking on a project to develop core technologies for urban air mobility (UAM), it is also participating in standardization work to secure global leadership in the advanced air transportation (AAM) sector.

The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Meteorological Administration announced on the 14th that they will launch the 'Development of Core Technologies for the Safety Operation System of Korean Urban Air Mobility (K-UAM)' project. On the same day, the Ministry of Science and ICT held the launching ceremony of the 'Global Association for Advanced Air Mobility (G3AM),' the world's first international de facto standardization organization for advanced air mobility (AAM), at Lotte World Tower in Seoul.

This project by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Meteorological Administration was selected as one of the 10 major national strategic technology projects of the current government in April, and passed the national research and development project preliminary feasibility study. A total of KRW 100.7 billion (KRW 80.3 billion from the national budget) will be invested in this project, and 33 institutions from academia, industry, and research will participate in a total of 7 research and development projects in 3 strategic areas: △Navigation and traffic management technology, △Vertiport operation and support technology, and △Safety certification technology.

To this end, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport and the Korea Meteorological Administration established the 'UAM National Strategic Technology Business Group', an R&D specialized organization under the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The business group plans and manages the overall project and collaborates with UTK (UAM Team Korea).

The navigation and traffic management technology field consists of four tasks: developing technology to acquire flight information to support UAM safe operation, securing real-time and automated design technology for UAM routes and advancing traffic management technology, and securing urban low-altitude weather observation and prediction technology.

The Vertiport Operation and Support Technology field consists of two tasks: design and prototype production of a mobile modular vertiport for UAM safe operation, and development of design technology for an integrated vertiport operation and support system. Additionally, the safety certification technology field develops aircraft certification technology standards to meet the urban operation environment of UAM.

Jeon Hyeong-pil, director of the Mobility Automobile Bureau at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, emphasized, “It is important to secure core UAM technologies in order to commercialize UAM, a new form of air transportation of the future,” and added, “The government will actively support the creation of a new industrial ecosystem and taking the lead in the future UAM market.”

■ Launch of G3AM including Korean Air, Hanwha Systems, and 3 mobile carriers

AAM, which includes short-distance focused UAM and medium- to long-distance focused regional air traffic (RAM), is attracting attention as a future mode of transportation. This field is evaluated as an opportune time to take the lead in international standardization, as although the technology, such as gas, is ready, there are no standards yet.

Launched on the 14th, G3AM is an international de facto standardization organization established by domestic experts to develop, maintain, and manage new standards in various fields such as information sharing systems, traffic management and operation control, and essential navigation performance, and to promote de facto standardization that ensures interoperability and compatibility.

The founding members of G3AM include 63 key domestic companies related to AAM, including Korean Air, Incheon International Airport Corporation, FineVT Robotics, Hanwha Systems, Korea Airports Corporation, Hyundai Motor Company, and the three major mobile carriers. In addition, multinational companies in the AAM field, Onesky (USA), Skyports (UK), Padinagroup (USA), and ANRA Technologies (USA), are also participating. It has been revealed that multinational companies such as Joby Aviation (USA) and Volocopter (Germany) are considering joining G3AM.

The event began with a keynote speech by John Skul Walker, Chair of the International Organization for Standardization (ISO/TC20/SC16) Unmanned aircraft systems, on the role of international organizations in supporting AAM, followed by presentations by major domestic companies on trends in promoting AAM.

Korean Air presented a successful demonstration case of Korea’s urban air mobility (K-UAM). Hanwha Systems and Korea Aerospace Industries discussed the next-generation electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) and future air vehicles (AAV). The three mobile carriers (SKT, KT, LGU+) presented the trends of their AAM business. Skyports also presented the status of its vertiport infrastructure development.

Ministry of Science and ICT Director-General Jeon Young-soo said, “The cutting-edge air traffic sector is an area where our country can secure leadership through digital technology standards,” and added, “We will support G3AM so that it can become an internationally recognized de facto standards organization and play a pivotal role in the development of cutting-edge air traffic technology and the creation of an ecosystem.”