Hanwha Systems to set up UAM subsidiary in California 

Hanwha Systems will set up a subsidiary in California for its urban air mobility (UAM) business, CEO Kim Youn-chul said on Thursday.

The company was planning to hold talks with US Federal Aviation Administration on setting a certification standard for UAM, Kim said at an industry event in Seoul.

Hanwha was close to finishing up the development of its own electric propulsion system and will commence testing in August, the CEO said.

It will set up the subsidiary in California after it gets certification from the FAA and open a factory in the US to build a prototype machines, he added.

Hanwha is also planning to build a UAM management system to oversee UAM services. This will begin in 2022, and the company will build facilities at the edges of cities to test the service.

Kim said flying aircraft will be shown around 2023. The company will set up subsidiaries in Europe and Asia Pacific for UAM services around that time, the CEO said.

Testing around airports and in the inner cities are expected to begin in 2024, he said.

Hanwha is planning to begin production of its air taxi, called Butterfly, being developed in collaboration with US company Overair, in 2025, the CEO said.

It will build a vertiport at Gimpo International Airport in South Korea for service, he said.