Page 15 - SEOUL ADEX 2023 - DAY 1

INTERVIEW
An eVTOL Vehicle is

Only One Piece of the

AAM Puzzle: Supernal

CEO Jaiwon Shin

Supernal, U.S.-based advanced air mobility Earlier this year, we announced strategic
(AAM) provider and Hyundai Motor Group partnerships with GKN Aerospace and
subsidiary, is as focused on integrating Qarbon Aerospace to accelerate this. In
AAM as a feasible option into cities’ exist- tandem to manufacturing technology
ing transportation networks as it is on the development, we are also collaborating
development of its eVTOL aircraft, says with Hyundai Motor Group (HMG) on a
Jaiwon Shin, Company CEO. scalable digital factory model.
Jaiwon Shin, Supernal CEO
Can you delve a bit more into the company’s
In an exclusive interview with Arun ‘first to scale’ approach? It is markedly dif-
Sivasankaran of Daily News, Shin talked ferent from the ‘first to market’ sentiment introduce AAM regulations. The partnership
about a range of issues, including the of many of the other players in the industry. between Federal Aviation Administration
company’s ‘first to scale approach,’ the (FAA) and the Korea Office of Civil Aviation
development of its aircraft, entry into ser- (KOCA) is one such. Do you think this will
vice and the work the company is doing Our ‘first to scale’ approach is deliber- result in a broad uniformity in regulations
along with a range of stakeholders to move ate. We are taking the time to build a across regions?
the nascent industry forward. robust AAM ecosystem that will enable
the industry to reach the demand it is
Earlier this year, Supernal opened its engi- expected to see in the coming decades. Government and industry’s collaboration
This includes collaborating closely with
neering headquarters in Irvine, California, regulators, policymakers and various is a main reason commercial aviation
and its Policy and Commercial Office in aviation and startup stakeholders – in has become the world’s safest form
Washington, D.C. How far away is the com- addition to the HMG “engine.” The goal of transportation. Coordinated policy
pany from the development of its eVTOL is not just to launch an eVTOL; Supernal efforts, both domestic and international,
aircraft? Is everything on schedule for the wants to integrate AAM as a feasible will be crucial for the universal adoption
launch of commercial operations in 2028? of this new mode of transportation. We
option into cities’ existing transportation are optimistic that partnerships like the
networks.
Supernal is working on systems integra- one between the FAA and KOCA could
tion in our aircraft this year. Alongside Supernal has hired two former FAA exec- signal a move toward uniform global
this, we are continuing to focus on utives with experience in the field of regulations.
introducing advanced manufacturing Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). How
methods to the aviation market that much of an advantage is it for the company An emerging industry usually sees a lot of
blend automotive’s high-rate processes to have them on board? collective effort on the part of the players.
with aerospace’s high safety standards. Do you see that happening in the AAM
Our team includes industry experts sector?
with a wide range of skills, spanning
from technology and aviation to policy
and regulation. This diverse talent pool Absolutely. We are actively engaged
enables us to address the challenges that with a broad range of stakeholders, from
arise when introducing a new mode of governments to commercial partners, to
transportation. By leveraging our collec- collectively drive the AAM sector forward.
tive experience, we can establish strong Our long-term strategy – which harkens
relationships with important stakehold- back to HMG’s pragmatic approach –
ers, responsibly innovate and skillfully involves working with both established
position ourselves in the market. aerospace companies and innovative
startups, harnessing a diversity of tech-
Regulatory agencies around the world are nologies and expertise to make AAM
partnering with each other to finalize and scalable and accessible.

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