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Utilized Annually by Over 10,000 Personnel from 20 Institutions
In 2015, following revisions to the Aviation Act, the 700-meter paved temporary runway at the center received official approval from the Busan Regional Office of Aviation of the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport (MOLIT) as a certified takeoff and landing site for light aircraft. That same year, the management authority was delegated to KARI by Goheung County, enabling continued joint use of the facility by the institute and domestic academia and industry for various R&D flight test activities. The center features two test hangars for mid-sized and small aircraft, a tether crane for safety tether testing, a 1,200 × 45-meter runway, and a 700 × 24-meter runway. Major testing equipment includes a whirl tower for balancing the main and tail rotors of helicopters and facilities for the drop testing of landing gear systems. The center is used annually by over 10,000 personnel from 20 institutions and private companies. Activities include drop tests using large-scale testing equipment, rotor balancing tests, and functional and performance tests of components on developmental aircraft. More than 70% of the usage is for flight testing purposes. The center also supports various programs, such as the National University Rocket Competition, CanSat competitions, and meteorological observation campaigns. Over 70% of the center’s usage is attributed to external organizations, surpassing the share used by KARI itself.