Seoul to build floating aerodrome in Hangang River

Seoul City confirmed Wednesday its plan to construct a floating aerodrome on the Hangang River despite concerns about the safety of neighboring regions and planes.

Seoul Metropolitan Government said it would push for constructing a floating aerodrome next year as part of its efforts to boost tourism and diversify the use of the river. The most likely location will be the southeastern section of the river, either between Seongsu Bridge and Yeongdong Bridge or between Cheongdam Bridge and Jamsil Bridge, officials said.

Seoul City said it will operate various types of tourist planes, with a maximum of 14-seater seaplanes, to better attract tourists.

If pursued as planned, the Hangang River will be the second floating aerodrome site in the country after Cheongpungho airfield in Jecheon, North Chungcheong Province.

The first-ever 72,000-square-meter-large floating aerodrome is scheduled to open next month. The opening has been delayed for months over plane issues.

“The city’s study has shown that it is safe enough to run the water aerodrome on the river. The airfield only needs an 800 meter-long runway,” said a Seoul City official in charge of the project.

Seongsu Bridge and Yeongdong Bridge are 2 kilometers apart while Cheongdam Bridge and Jamsil Bridge are 2.7 kilometers away from each other. The current floating airfield law mandates that the runway be at least 800 meters long.

Some experts, however, expressed safety concerns over the project, claiming that there are too many obstacles in the Hangang River to enable smooth flights.

“Unlike other locations, there are too many bridges on the Hangang River. There is a necessity to review the plan very thoroughly,” administrative business professor Hurr Hee-young at Korea Aerospace University told The Korea Herald.

“The project does have business feasibility and the Hangang River conditions are likely to make it legally qualified for the airfield construction. But that doesn’t necessarily mean that the safety is ensured.”

Currently, there are 31 bridges on the Hangang River.

Once the city government submits the floating airfield plan to the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, the ministry will review and make a final decision.

The city has already made a budget plan of 2.8 billion won ($2.4 million) for the floating aerodrome project.

By Lee Hyun-jeong (rene@heraldcorp.com)