The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport presented its Urban Air Mobility(UAM) system, also known as air taxis, at an event on Thursday at Gimpo International Airport.
The presentation included a demonstration of the German Volocopter, a two-seat, multi-propeller aircraft that can take off vertically. The craft flew on a three-kilometer test course, showing off its control and coordination.
A smaller version of South Korea’s own Optionally Piloted Personal Air Vehicle(OPPAV) was also presented. The Korea Aerospace Research Institute plans to complete the full-size OPPAV for a test flight by next year.
The event also demonstrated how the UAM service will work. A passenger arriving at the airport on an international flight can utilize an app to set a destination. They then go through a quick inspection before boarding the air taxi to their final destination.
The transport ministry aims to commercialize the UAM service connecting major airports and downtown Seoul by 2025.
Source: KBS World Radio