South Korean eVTOL Developer Plana Expands Operations to the U.S.
The start-up has opened California offices in San Jose and Irvine to more readily connect with U.S. partners and also to advance its plans to achieve FAA type certification in 2028.
South Korean start-up Plana is putting down roots in the U.S. as it prepares to apply for FAA type certification of its five-seat VTOL aircraft. The company recently opened California offices in San Jose and Irvine to give it easier access to the U.S. air safety regulator and prospective American partners.
The Plana team is already conducting flight tests with a one-fifth scaled model of the hybrid-electric aircraft, which it expects to carry a pilot and four passengers on flights of over 500 kilometers (313 miles). It is preparing to participate in the K-UAM Grand Challenge urban air mobility demonstration project that is being organized by Korea’s Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport in the second half of this year.
