The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport said on the 10th it will make aviation safety its top priority for the next five years. It is the first national plan prepared after the Jeju Air passenger plane disaster at Muan Airport on Dec. 29 last year.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) finalized the Fourth Basic Aviation Policy Plan after a review by the Aviation Policy Committee. The plan is the top-level roadmap that sets the broad direction of the aviation sector, from airport operations and safety management to flight allocation.
The core is a full overhaul to strengthen aviation safety. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will reinforce bird strike prevention equipment at airports and create a system for constant inspection of risk factors around runways. It plans to introduce an artificial intelligence (AI)-based system that analyzes aviation safety data in real time to detect early signs of accidents. It will also revise qualification management standards for aviation workers, including pilots, to meet international levels.
The air traffic operation system will also change to prepare for increasing traffic and the opening of new airports. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) will re-segment national airspace and secure additional Korean Augmentation Satellite System (KASS) satellites No. 3, 4, and 5 to improve navigation accuracy. It will also build a new system to integrate the management of aircraft arrival and departure times and weather data.
The competitive environment for airlines will be reorganized. After the integration of Korean Air and Asiana Airlines, the government will support the entry of alternative carriers and continuously monitor the market to reduce concerns about monopolies. For domestic airlines with weak financial structures, it will ensure that safety investment and consumer protection do not falter.
Policies for regional airports will also change. In the process of building new airports, the government will increase participation by local companies and review plans to attract duty-free, logistics, and maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) industries. Regional airports will increase charter and domestic flights to improve accessibility and will be converted into airports with multiple functions, including urban air mobility (UAM), maintenance, and training.
User protection measures will also be strengthened. The standards for managing flight delays will be revised, and mobility for people with transportation challenges will be improved. The support system for aviation accident victims will be overhauled around manuals. To reduce carbon emissions, the government will also push a roadmap to mandate sustainable aviation fuel (SAF).
The plan also includes fostering new industries such as drones and urban air mobility (UAM). The government will localize core drone technologies and expand their use in industries such as delivery and leisure. For UAM, it will establish operating standards and a safety system with the goal of commercialization in 2028.
Minister Kim Yun-duk of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) said, "If aviation safety is shaken, the entire industry shrinks," and added, "We will prioritize advancing safety management."