UI Helicopter, a South Korean helicopter operations and maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) company, is entering the domestic Advanced Air Mobility (AAM) market through a partnership with US-based BETA Technologies and UK-based Skyports.
UI Helicopter announced that it signed a three-way Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the global companies during the opening ceremony of the "2026 Korea Drone & UAM Expo (K-UAM Confex 2026)," held in Incheon over three days from today (15th) to the 17th. The agreement aims to build domestic AAM infrastructure, introduce aircraft, and initiate flight operations services.
The signing ceremony was attended by Sung-ui Lim, CEO of UI Helicopter; Patrick Buckles, Head of Aircraft Sales at BETA Technologies; and Michele Williams, Korea General Manager at Skyports.
Participating in the agreement, BETA is a global aircraft manufacturer based in Delaware, USA, that designs and produces electric aircraft and ground charging support equipment. UK-headquartered Skyports specializes in the design and operation of vertiports and AAM infrastructure. Leveraging its expertise in helicopter operations and MRO, UI Helicopter has also recently expanded its scope into the development of medium-sized unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs).
Capitalizing on their respective core competencies, the three companies plan to establish a collaborative framework spanning aircraft introduction, infrastructure construction, flight services, and MRO support.
The agreement also includes provisions to examine the potential utilization of BETA's electric aircraft in South Korea's defense and military sectors. Consequently, the company explained that it plans to explore opportunities not only in the commercial market but also within the defense domain.
CEO Sung-ui Lim stated, "We have established a partnership with BETA and Skyports at this expo. Based on the aircraft operation and MRO know-how, as well as the R&D capabilities that UI Helicopter has accumulated over the years, we will build a future air mobility ecosystem tailored to Korea’s terrain and environment."
Meanwhile, the "Korea Drone & UAM Expo" is an aviation mobility event hosted by the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) and other organizations.
Reporter Seong-hye Kim, Hankyung.com (shkimmy@hankyung.com)
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