The Augusta Aviation Commission, during its meeting Thursday morning, voted to enter a memorandum of understanding (MOU) with a South Korean drone startup for testing new aerospace tech.
Weflo, based in Daejon, South Korea, with U.S. offices in San Jose, Calif. according to its website, produces automated aircraft specialized for the inspection and maintenance of airplanes during both takeoff and landing.
Diane Johnston, director of innovation and business development at Augusta Regional Airport (AGS), told commissioners that the company, with whom the airport has already been in correspondence, is considering constructing space AGS property to test its products with their customers.
Should this occur, Johnston explained, it would entail AGS entering a lease agreement with Weflo for the ground in airport’s southeast quadrant. The MOU, she said, would make way for AGS and the company to work more closely toward such an agreement.
“This just allows us to try to get our name back out there a little bit further in these new aerospace technologies,” said Johnston. “Focused on, at some point in time, getting some of this business on our airport.”
Commissioner Dan Troutman noted that the company seems to have not registered with the State of Georgia as a foreign corporation. Commissioner Will Sasser underscored that the MOU would not bear any financial obligations on AGS.
Johnston likewise highlighted that the two-year MOU, entails no monetary commitments, can be dissolved with 90 days’ notice, or amended or extended at any time. She also mentioned that city attorney Robert Kerr, present at the meeting, had reviewed and signed off on the MOU.
“Obviously if they’re going to want to lease some land from us we would get into a little bit more of the background information and financial stuff, as we do with any or any company that wants to come out to the airport to do actual business,” she said. “But this is basically, in my mind, a PR thing where it just gets our name out there for these new technologies, lets them know that we’re new technology friendly, that we’re pushing our airport in the direction of being able to accommodate these types of technologies, where most airports can’t at this point in time.”
The commissioners approved the MOU under the condition, added by Aviation Commission Chair Ronic West, that Weflo register with Georgia as a foreign company.
The commissioners and airport staff took time again during Thursday’s meeting to recognize DeAndre Davis, the AGS customer service supervisor who coordinated efforts among staff to aid federal workers employed at the airport amid the government shutdown.
Lauren Smith, the airport’s PR director, told attendees that TSA and tower works have been supplied lunch “every day for the past several weeks” due to staff’s help, which included contact churches and other organizations for donations.
Smith noted that Davis and airport staff will be organizing a turkey drive, to continue to aid federal workers’ transition amid the government reopening.
Skyler Q. Andrews is a staff reporter covering general reporting for The Augusta Press. Reach him at skyler@theaugustapress.com
