Icheon to Build Gyeonggi Province's First Unmanned Aircraft Flight Testbed

[Suwon Ilbo = Reporter Eom In-yong] Icheon City announced on the 2nd that it has begun construction of a flight testbed for unmanned aircraft demonstration tests and military drone technology development along the Cheongmicheon stream.

The flight testbed construction project was undertaken with the purpose of providing drone test infrastructure for related companies and military units, discovering safety standards research and business models through drone demonstration tests, and contributing to national defense including military drone tactical training at stationed units.

The facilities for Icheon's unmanned aircraft flight testbed will include ▲test flight runway ▲helipad for impact mitigation during landing ▲maintenance and waiting spaces for unmanned aircraft, creating facilities optimized for unmanned aircraft demonstration tests such as drones.

In particular, despite recent increases in interest and demand in the drone industry, the issue of insufficient performance testing venues has been continually raised. Icheon City expects that by constructing the flight testbed, it will serve as a starting point not only for the city but also for revitalizing the drone industry in eastern Gyeonggi Province.

Accordingly, the city plans to operate the testbed facility by receiving applications from companies and military units across the nation seeking unmanned aircraft demonstration and technology development, and plans to continuously research ways to activate the drone industry and military defense drones in the future, establishing itself as a center for advanced drone technology.

Icheon Mayor Kim Kyung-hee said, "Through the construction of the Icheon flight testbed, Icheon City will serve as the center of the drone industry in eastern Gyeonggi Province and create a foundation for related companies to come," and added, "Not only through the testbed construction project but also by continuously discovering advanced technologies that can become Icheon's future growth engines, we will establish Icheon as a city where business thrives."