South Korea-based advanced air mobility (AAM) developer Plana has established US branches in Silicon Valley and Irvine, California, to facilitate the FAA certification process of its aircraft and expand into global markets. Plana will continue to partner with other American companies to expand the AAM ecosystem for its aircraft.

FAA certification is a process that verifies the airworthiness of all parts, including design, as well as the type and production qualification of the airframe as a passenger aircraft. In the US, eVTOL aircraft also have to meet the safety standards applicable to large transport class aircraft, and all certification processes must be completed before the product can be marketed and exported to the US and other countries.

“FAA certification is one of the most important processes for companies in the aerospace industry,” says CEO Braden J Kim. “With the establishment of the US subsidiary, we plan to increase our interactions in the newly created AAM market as well as FAA certification.”

Plana's aircraft can operate over 500km with five people including a pilot. The company is currently conducting test flights and verification of a scaled-down aircraft and plans to participate in the Grand Challenge (K-UAM) demonstration project conducted by the South Korean Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport in the second half of this year.