South Korean helicopter operator UI Helijet has signed a strategic partnership agreement with eVTOL developer AutoFlight.
According to UI Helijet press statement: “Over the years, we have built extensive operational expertise in public aviation services, including the operation of air ambulance and wildfire surveillance helicopters. Additionally, we manage a 115,700 m² MRO centre equipped for flight testing, aircraft maintenance, and overhauls, providing a strong foundation for our expansion into the UAM/AAM industry.”
During the agreement signing, AutoFlight’s Senior Vice President Kellen Xie commented, “South Korea is one of the most proactive countries in the urban and regional air mobility industry. We look forward to creating an innovative public UAM/AAM service model by collaborating with a remarkable aviation expert like UI Helijet.”
AutoFlight, based in Germany and China, has developed the five-seat Prosperity 1 eVTOL aircraft, which has a cruising speed of 200 km/h and a flight range of 250 km on a single charge, says the company. In April of this year, it received Type Certificate for its two-ton-class cargo eVTOL from China’s Civil Aviation Administration (CAAC), and it plans to obtain certification for its passenger aircraft in the recent future, followed by full-scale commercialization. Additionally, in August, AutoFlight secured hundreds of millions of dollars in investment from Fortune Global 500 battery developer CATL, allowing it to focus its efforts on eVTOL development.
UI Helijet Representative Director Gun Chang stated, “Although we are not directly involved in the government-led UAM/AAM projects at the moment, no other country is as proactive as the Korean government in this field. We hope to contribute to the development of the aviation industry by participating in government UAM/AAM projects, utilizing UI Helijet’s expertise in air transport operations, MRO, airworthiness for foreign aircraft, and pilot and maintenance technician training.”
For more information
https://www.autoflight.com/