UAM Trials Move Beyond Technical Validation Toward Local Services; ‘Neo GC’ Initiative Underway

[Financial News] The Urban Air Mobility (UAM) demonstration project will shift to a system that assesses both technical validation and the feasibility of operating local services. The government and private sector will jointly validate flight technologies, while local governments and businesses will develop routes and operating models tailored to regional demand.
On the 9th, the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) announced that it would pursue the Neo K-UAM Grand Challenge (Neo GC), restructuring the existing demonstration program into a “Technology Demonstration GC” and a “Regional Commercialization GC.” 
The Technology Demonstration GC will shift from private-sector-led validation of individual technologies to a model in which the government and private sector jointly validate the technologies and operational systems needed for commercialization. Using actual UAM aircraft, it will conduct integrated tests of aircraft operations, traffic management and vertiport operations, and share demonstration goals and results.
The newly introduced Regional Commercialization GC will develop services suited to local characteristics, such as travel between regions, airport connections and tourism, and will assess in stages the feasibility of actual flight operations and service operations. The plan is to define routes, takeoff-and-landing facilities and operating models for each region, and link demonstration results to pilot projects and commercialization.
Participation will take the form of consortia formed by local governments, businesses and relevant institutions. Local governments will be responsible for identifying regional demand and establishing infrastructure and administrative conditions, while businesses and relevant institutions will provide specialized technologies and carry out projects involving aircraft operations, traffic management and facility operations.
MOLIT will hold a briefing in Seoul on the 10th for around 200 people, including representatives of local governments, businesses and relevant institutions, to explain the direction of the reforms, participation procedures and upcoming schedule.
In December, an official launch of Neo GC will be accompanied by a “Partnering Day” to help participating parties find partners and form consortia. The briefing will also explain the purpose of Partnering Day and the preparations required.
MOLIT has been pursuing the business-led K-UAM Grand Challenge since 2023. Based on experience accumulated in flight operations, traffic management and vertiport operations in Goheung County, South Jeolla Province, and Cheongna, Incheon, it plans to advance technology demonstrations and expand the scope of validation to include conditions for introducing local services.

[email protected] Choi Ga-young Reporter