Our university held the 2nd Aircraft Runway Festival on November 7–8 at the Aircraft runway beside the campus, decorating the autumn sky together with citizens. Themed “The Way to the Sky,” this festival opened the Aircraft runway—normally off-limits to the public—to citizens, offering a rich variety of aviation-leisure experiences, exhibitions, and performances as an aviation-culture festival.

Centered around our university, the event also involved the army, corporations, local resident organisations and regional companies—adding significance as a “regional co-prosperity festival” where the university and region soar together. The festival was hosted by our university, and supported by Goyang Special Self-Governing City, Korea Airports Corporation, Incheon International Airport Corporation, Korea Airport, and ten airlines including Korean Air, Asiana Airlines, Jin Air, Jeju Air, Air Busan, Eastar Jet, Air Seoul, Aero K, Air Premia, and Air Korea.

The Saturday event began with a ride-on experience aboard the KUH‑1 Surion helicopter of the army. The Surion helicopters, carrying spectators who successfully made prior reservations, circled the Aircraft runway at regular intervals to mark the opening of the festival. A powered paragliding demonstration also captured the audience’s attention, and a variety of performances—including a military band, honor guard and special forces martial arts team—added to the enjoyment.

The hot-air balloon and Surion helicopter experiences were the highlights of the festival. From the balloon slowly ascending into the sky, the view of the campus and the city of Goyang below left an unforgettable impression on citizens. The Surion helicopter ride was met with high interest as well—reservations closed within less than a minute.

At the experience zone set up beside the Aircraft runway, a variety of aerospace-themed programs were operated — flight simulator experiences, solar-observation, model-making, aviation board games — drawing families of visitors. Displays of the army’s helicopters, tanks and armored vehicles also continuously attracted citizens’ attention.

In the later part of the event, programs that allowed direct citizen participation followed. The aviation-leisure OX quiz competition provided a time to learn about aviation knowledge together, and the egg-d r o p challenge saw cheers each time a family-built d r o p device landed safely.

One visitor who came to the event said, “We walked on the Aircraft runway, which normally isn’t accessible, and tried flying a model aircraft—the child was very amazed. There were so many programmes that families could enjoy together, so the day passed in a flash.” Another attendee said, “It was impressive that Korea Aerospace University created a space open to local residents. I want to visit again next year.”

Meanwhile, during the festival period the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport hosted the “1st Aviation Leisure Industry Job Fair”. Over 60 organisations from the aviation-leisure sector — private companies, public corporations and educational institutions — took part, offering one-on-one career and recruitment counselling, employment lectures and keynote speeches, alongside on-site recruitment booths and an aviation job & leisure information centre.