SkyScape and Plana have teamed up to develop the first international eVTOL route in Asia, connecting Korea and Japan.
SkyScape Co., Ltd., a Japanese Vertiport Development and Management Company (VDMC), has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Plana, a Korean manufacturer of hybrid eVTOL aircraft, to jointly develop the first operable eVTOL route between Japan and Korea.
The agreement will see the two companies work together to lay the foundation for operations and necessary infrastructure to develop the first international route in Asia while at the same time working collaboratively to advance the Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) industry in APAC as a whole.
As the Plana aircraft is set to debut in a few years time, the team will begin with a Concept of Operations (ConOps) detailing operations between the two countries and the potential impact the route would have on communities within the target area. They will be looking at bringing in various stakeholders from both countries to contribute to the work and be involved in the ConOps.
Minyoung Ahn, CSO and co-founder of Plana, said: “We are glad to sign an MoU with SkyScape, which is enthusiastically creating an AAM ecosystem in the APAC region. Through this partnership, we believe PLANA and SkyScape will be able to co-develop a highly accessible aerial transportation network in Asia and realize it together for the benefit of the region.”
Asa Quesenberry, SkyScape Founder, commented: “We couldn’t be happier to begin this type of work with another industry leader here in the APAC market. The Plana team have made tremendous progress as of late, have a truly impressive aircraft and share many of our same beliefs related to leveraging AAM to create positive impact within our communities and regions. We’re lucky to be able to say that the region of focus is large enough to benefit citizens from two countries, not just one.”
“As we move into a future empowered by AAM, we are excited to work directly with the Plana team to create a truly unique experience between these two countries. One that fosters closer ties and provides real value for the communities involved,” he added.
According to SkyScape, work is set to begin on bringing in stakeholders in the early spring months with the ConOps study beginning shortly after.
