Eve Air Mobility, UI Helicopter partner to develop advanced air mobility in South Korea
MELBOURNE, Fla. - Eve Air Mobility in Melbourne, Fla., and South Korea’s UI Helicopter have signed a memorandum of understanding to advance the development of advanced air mobility (AAM) infrastructure in the country, the companies announced.
The agreement focuses on introducing electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft operations and ecosystem requirements to South Korean government and industry stakeholders. Eve, a subsidiary of Embraer, is developing an eVTOL aircraft designed for urban air mobility, which features distributed electric propulsion and a lift-plus-cruise configuration to enhance efficiency and reduce noise.
"Advanced air mobility has the potential to reinvent global mobility, particularly in the dense urban areas that need it most," said Johann Bordais, CEO of Eve. "We’re proud to share Eve’s resources in technical and ecosystem development with UI Helicopter to develop a technically rigorous AAM infrastructure."
Related: Eve Air Mobility, Signature Aviation sign agreement to advance eVTOL ground operations
UI Helicopter CEO Sungwieh Albert Rim emphasized South Korea’s early investment in urban air mobility, pointing to the need for sustainable infrastructure. “With the right technical partner and UI Helicopter’s longstanding relationship with South Korean policymakers, we look forward to unlocking the AAM use cases that most benefit us,” Rim said.
The collaboration will begin with Eve conducting a market survey to gather data on potential use cases. The South Korean government has prioritized urban air mobility initiatives, including the K-UAM Grand Challenge, to integrate eVTOL aircraft into the country’s transportation network. While Seoul is a key focus, officials also see potential for AAM to enhance connectivity in rural regions.
UI Helicopter, a leading operator and maintenance provider, will work with Eve to engage policymakers and ensure that South Korea’s AAM ecosystem aligns with international technical and regulatory standards.
