The prolonged closure of Muan International Airport following the Jeju Air tragedy last December significantly disrupts flight training programs for universities, private aviation companies, the Coast Guard, and the Navy.
On Tuesday, Chodang University reported that 17 of its training aircraft had been grounded at Muan Airport for over a month since the incident. The university operates the Condor Flight Education Center at the airport.
With flight training effectively suspended, students required to complete 200 hours of flight education (including 10 hours of night flight) may face potential graduation delays.
The lack of flight training hours prevents students from obtaining pilot qualifications, jeopardizing their graduation from commercial pilot programs. This also affects pilot scholarship recipients linked to the Air Force and Navy, who face inevitable delays in their post-graduation commissioning.
Jeong Kyung, director of Chodang University’s flight education center, expressed frustration: “We’re temporarily conducting flight training at the Haenam Sani Runway and Yeosu Airport, but there are limitations in night flights.”
Besides Chodang University, four other institutions – Korea National University of Transportation, Kyungwoon University, Cheongju University, and Jungwon University – operate flight education centers at Muan Airport.
The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport has extended Muan Airport’s closure until April 18. The ministry cited the need for further facility inspections, including runway checks.
In addition, Jeollanam-do Governor Kim Young Rok stated on a radio broadcast on February 2 that Muan International Airport requires fundamental improvements to its localizer and bird control measures, suggesting the airport might remain closed until October.
The extended shutdown has impacted university flight education and halted programs for private aviation companies, the Coast Guard, and the Navy. Consequently, about 30 small aircraft remain grounded at Muan Airport.
Private entities such as SOC, AirFlex, and Sunny Air have used Muan Airport for their flight training operations.
Following the Jeju Air tragedy, Navy and Coast Guard flight training programs partially conducted at Muan Airport have been temporarily relocated to other regional airports.
In response to these challenges, Chodang University held a meeting on Monday afternoon to urge the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, and Transport, the Ministry of Education, and Korea Airports Corporation to develop solutions such as providing alternative flight training facilities.
