Plana and US city Irvine exploring partnership

Representatives from South Korean eVTOL developer, Plana have met with the vice mayor of Irvine, US to explore opportunities to partner.

Irvine Vice Mayor, Tammy Kim visited Plana’s Research and Development (R&D) Centre located in Icheon, South Korea at the beginning of June. The tour was led by Braden Kim, CEO of Plana, where they discussed the opening of Plana’s new Irvine office and explored opportunities for collaboration around economic development and tech innovation.

Plana recently opened an office in the Californian city to partly assist with the FAA certification process. Vice Mayor Tammy Kim’s visit to Plana ties into her efforts to promote economic development and provide support to Korean businesses looking to expand into the US, according to the mayor’s office. 

Kim said she recognises the mutual benefits the partnerships can bring to both regions. “The establishment of Plana’s presence in Irvine will not only enhance our technology ecosystem, but also create exciting opportunities for collaboration, research, and economic growth,” said Kim. “As a Korean American, I look forward to the fruitful partnerships that will arise from this venture and the advancements we will achieve together.”

Braden Kim, Plana’s CEO, said: “Irvine thrives as an aerospace hub with prominent players like Parker Aerospace, Unical Aviation, and Zephyr Aerospace. The AAM industry is also expanding, with emerging air taxi developers OverAir and Supernal. We are privileged to host the Vice Mayor of Irvine at Plana’s R&D Centre. Collaborating with the city on policy, business, and infrastructure development paves the way for a new era in AAM. Together, we’ll revolutionise urban air mobility and shape the future of the industry.”