Hypersonic Aircraft Project Management: Objectives and Challenges

This project management solution outlines the development of a hypersonic aircraft for commercial use, aiming to reduce travel time between continents. The project scope involves creating an aircraft capable of reaching speeds of 1,451 miles per hour, ensuring passenger safety, and enabling slow takeoff and landing speeds. Key deliverables include three classes of aircraft with varying passenger and cargo capacities. The solution identifies critical risks related to governance, compliance, executive sponsorship, risk assessment, execution plans, employee engagement, validation, testing, integration, and operationalization. Financial resources have been secured through investments and agreements with companies such as Japan Airlines and Virgin Galactic. This document highlights the milestones, challenges, and requirements involved in bringing supersonic air travel back to the forefront of commercial aviation. Desklib provides access to similar project documents and solved assignments for students.

Project management

Project Background and
Description
 Commercial airliners have not broken the sound barrier since the
Concorde was retired in 2003. Aerospace firms are now hoping to usher
in a new era of supersonic air travel. To build a fleet of planes that can
make it from New York to London in 3 hours.

Project Scope/Success Criteria
 For a plane to make if from US to Europe in little over 3 hours, it must be
able to reach speeds of 1,451 miles per hour. Must develop a jet
powered hypersonic aircraft that is safe enough to transport passengers.
It must also take off and land at slow speeds

High-Level Requirements
 Jet engines that can move aircraft to top speeds. Sleek outer shell that
can handle speed and heat.

Deliverables
 Three different classes of aircraft. Smaller planes can carry 30-50
passengers and cargo. Mid-size planes can carry 100-150 passengers.
And Larger planes which will be able to transfer 200 passengers or large
cargo loads.

Risks

Risk Management
Assume the Risk
(Low Criticality)
Identify, Plan
and Mitigate
for the Risk
(High Criticality)
Identify material
elements of criticality

Key Elements and Challenges
 Governance and compliance
 Executive sponsorship,
commitment and ownership
 Risk assessment plans
 Execution plans
 Employee engagement
 Validate, test, and maintain plans
 Integration
 Operationalize

Milestone Schedule

Preapproved financial resources
 Japan Airlines (JAL) have invested $10 million. Richard Branson, British
billionaire and founder of the Virgin Group has agreed to buy first 10
planes. He is also appointing his spaceflight company, Virgin Galactic, to
assist with the flight test support.