Plana is waiting for final approvals to lease space in the National Advanced Air Mobility Center of Excellence (NAAMCE) in Springfield, Ohio, as part of its efforts to accelerate its technology research and development, as well as its plans for global expansion.

The NAAMCE, adjacent to the Springfield-Beckley Municipal airport terminal, is a 30,000 sq ft office building that will house administrative, laboratory, meeting, and collaboration space, with 25,000 sq ft of aircraft hangar space, for the Air Force and private industry. The centre supports the expanding work of manufacturers and operators of eVTOL and other vehicles used for advanced air mobility.

Participants get a collaborative environment in which they can find support for aerospace research, design, validation, test and flight, training and business advice related to aircraft development. The NAAMCE also supports various demonstration projects showcasing technologies that will advance AAM integration, beyond the aircraft itself.

Plana will join other eVTOL original equipment manufacturers (OEM) such as Joby Aviation and Beta Technologies, which both have simulators on the airport grounds. Plana aims to accelerate research on CP-01, the hybrid-electric AAM aircraft that it is currently developing, establish new technologies, and collaborate with US companies and organisations.

Regional use cases are being developed to support logistics and emergency medical services across the state of Ohio, while the state pushes to establish flight corridors connecting its largest cities; Cleveland, Columbus and Cincinnati.

“Participating in NAAMCE is of great significance in building a collaborative ecosystem with various AAM projects currently being developed in the US,” says chief strategy officer Minyoung Ahn. “It is a great opportunity to showcase South Korea's AAM technology to the world and jointly develop new technologies for the future.”