Uber Elevate: Feasibility and Project Analysis for BM203 Project

This project report examines the feasibility of Uber's Elevate project, which aims to introduce air taxi services in Australia. The report analyzes various aspects, including the project's introduction, the rationale behind the project, and the constraints faced, such as regulatory hurdles and technological challenges. It delves into the project cycle, objectives, and the importance of Gantt charts for project management. The report identifies key stakeholders, including the Department of Infrastructure and Transport, and discusses their roles in the project's success. The conclusion emphasizes the project's potential if resources are appropriately allocated and collaboration among stakeholders is fostered. This analysis is provided to students on Desklib, which offers past papers and solved assignments to help them study.

Running head: UBER ELEVATE 1
Uber Elevate
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Abstract
UBER intents to expand its market by venturing into the aviation sector. It will provide
air taxi services across Australia. Uber has partnered with SCentre Group, Melbourne Airport
Macquarie, and Telstra to establish necessary infrastructure and telecommunication required to
operate successfully (Cidell, 2014). Uber plans by 2023 to have affordable flights. It will closely
work with local and federal policymakers to provide aerial services which are quiet, safe and
environmentally friendly and extends beyond the current transportation system. The management
has convened leader across all sectors and government including manufacturers, operators,
investors, regulators, policy males and manufacture to build and begin urban aviation by next
year.
There are many constrain associated with entry into new market. Uber faces safety issue
such as harm and ability to retain customer, high investment in technologies whose returns are
not certain (Department of Infrastructure and Transport 2019). The company may fail to
successfully develop and commercial vehicle technologies. Further the firm may be blocked
from accessing certain jurisdiction. The company operates and workers have grown significantly
and they expect similar trend. In case their growth is not considered, the company future may be
adversely affected.
The project is feasible and can be implemented in Australia due to easier and flexible
state regulations. With collaboration with Google Company which will able to provide GPS and
google location service will further underpin use of drones which required no pilots. They use
electricity and controlled by the computer which makes it easy for the system to be used in
commercial markets.

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UBER ELEVATE
INTRODUCTION
Uber air taxi services is magnificent project whose initial stage is planned to start in 2020
in various city and launch actual operation by 2023. Air taxi services is untapped field which can
possibly generate economic profits. People as yet to tap it because it is capital intensive and there
are numerous challenges with the project. However, there is feasible plan which proposal suggest
which will be able to cushion challenges at their onset therefore allowing successful completion
of the project. Furthermore, partnering with various aviation industry will help leverage cost,
provide our air taxi service at affordable rate and being able to get a high return. Consequently. It
will be worth for Department of Infrastructure and Transport to finance the project.
Reasons why the project need to be done
Many hours are wasted traveling with roads thus reducing productivity. Aviation will
substantially improve urban mobility enabling people to save time. Air taxi looks forward to
grappling the pain caused by congestion, delays and long distances. This is done according to
company’s mission and commitment to consumer rider base. It will use three-dimensional
airspace to solve ground transport congestion (Uber, 2019). An electric aircraft vee-tol, and
VTOL which will be fast and reliable within cities and its suburbs.
The development of this system will support urban VTOL network which will have more
cost advantage as compared to heavy infrastructures like railway, tunnels, bridges, and roads.
There is a proposal that existing helipads, parking garage and unused land in highway could be
used as a distributed network of single aircraft or VTOL (Johnson, Silva, & Solis, 2018). As

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tradition infrastructure continues to rise, increase flexibility and lower cost provide a compelling
option for Department of Infrastructure and Transport to accept Uber elevate project.
Moreover, VTOLs does not have fixed route to follow. Buses, cars, and trains all have
limited number of fixed routs exposing individual to delay when the interruption is experienced.
By contrast, VTOLs move does not follow specific path and move towards a certain destination
independently making congestion less frequent.
Aircraft to use electricity-producing zero emissions, and operate quietly with no
disturbance. Noise from the electric vehicle at flying altitude will hardly be audible. Even during
landing and takeoff, the noise will be compatible with background noises (Shaheen, Cohen, &
Farrar, 2018). As compared to present helicopters, it makes VTOL markedly safer (Johnson,
Silva, & Solis, 2018). Importantly, it will be programmed system thus eliminating operating
errors.
Constraints
The certification process is not as easy as the company has to meet all the aviation
authority regulations. VTOLs are new from the regulatory environment and certification of
aircraft certification has been slow from the past. But the company is optimistic that clear will be
hastened.
Battery technology is the main source of power and it normally suitable for a short
distance. This limits the distance covered for VTOLS (Zhang, & Wang, Y2017). Furthermore,
charging time is needed for batteries hence there shall be operation idleness for some time.

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Vehicle efficiency. VTOLs will use DEP technology which will increase its flexibility as
compared to helicopters (Yamaguchi, Lou, & Minato, 2018). However, there is no current
vehicle manufacturer has demonstrated it to be commercially viable.
Vehicle reliability and performance weather is one factor that threatens the operation of
Uber. Weather, in this case, influences the operation of VOTLs. Additionally, inadequate
infrastructure such as port will be barrier to startup of the business (Finger, Braun, & Bil, 2017).
The city may lack a land site for landing and taking off. Lack of expansive infrastructure will
limit expansion and optimal placement of vertiports.
Lastly, training pilot is time-intensive and requires about 500 hours for one to be well
experienced to operate VTOL. With increased VTOL demands, meeting optimal number of pilot
may be hard. In return, it will curtail potential growth.
Project cycle
Project cycle involved four stages, namely, initial, planning, implementation and closure.
Initiating level is a detailed stage where feasibility and paperwork are done. Essentially. Planning
stage demands for definition of goals and objective, and how it would be implemented. In this
juncture, relevant tasks, time and task specified. The implementation stage is actual doing of the
suggested work. Close monitor and review are done to ensure project become a success. The last
stage is closure where successful completion is reached. It could be a success or failure, in the
implementation stage, if work is seen to be unviable, stakeholder’s area informed and project is
canceled. However, it is feasible, project will be completed successfully.
There are many challenges encountered during the stages owing the presence that it’s a
new project and similar project has never been carried out before. As mentioned in the

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constraints, these challenges prolonged. However, the risk management program is in place to
cushion potential barriers.
The objective of the project
The objective of Uber elevate are to decrease operation cost, reduce infrastructure
integration cost and operation cost. Reaching this call for use of advanced technologies to cut the
cost.
Gantt Charts
There are many tasks involved in order to successfully implement the system.
Certification and testing of aircraft have been given priority with actual operation starting from
2023.

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Before VTOLs operates, it has to meet existing aviation standards such as EASA and
FAA operating and maintenance operation, pilot licensing, production and design.
Importance of the chart
The charts above are essential as it helps the company evaluate the project critically.
Each task is planned according to time and resources need, and challenges that may be
encountered by your team. Hence increasing accountability of each task.
The detailed map assist the firm to ensure that the timeline is attainable, each task is
assigned to qualified staff, and potential problem handled adequately before work is started.
Charts are also important when it comes to practical implementation of the project. Such
as maximum and minimum time that it will take for each and whole project to be done.

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Additionally, critical path can be identified so that it can be completed to ensure the project is
completed successfully.
Ultimately, sponsors and your team depend on them to know the stage which project is as
well as if it is according to the chart. In brief, it is used to communicate key stages that have been
completed and any adjustment and implication of the changes.
Sponsors
The project seeks to be sponsored by the government particularly by the
Department of Infrastructure and Transport. The ministry has quality personnel who can
oversee all the process as well as adequate resource to fund the whole project. They better
understand aviation operation and licensing which is currently available. These includes
regulatory framework, data gathering, package delivery and flight experience.
Furthermore, they are capable of setting efficient system, procedure and infrastructure
that would safely pick up and deliver passengers.
Role of sponsors
Department of Infrastructure and Transport assume a vital role in ensuring various
resources are available. To start, sponsors have to accept project charts in order for the
project to start. As such, they assess the viability of the business before giving credit.
Furthermore, they offer financial and necessary support from the first to last step of the
project. They have to receive timely update and feedback on the ongoing project. Lastly,
they have power to authorize and approve project deliverable from people in charge of the
project

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Stakeholders
There significant benefit by implementing this project to government of Victoria,
business and general public. City air mobility innovation will change the manner which
people travel, work and live. First advantage is that safety of people as guarantee as air is
the safest mode of transport globally. Secondly, the project will help the country to rebuild
and refurbish its infrastructure which will help local economy to grow, improve quality of
life and increase competitiveness. Lastly, it helps the state to engage with new technologies
and handle public concern like privacy, security and safety without flouting innovation.
Conclusion
Air tax is feasible for Uber if the appropriate resource is in place. With collaboration with
various stakeholder gives the company credit of entering the market successful. Even though the
start phase is expensive, the business model is yet to be tested before, there is much hope that the
business model is feasible. Therefore, user should try and implement its strategies.

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Appendix
Australian aviation laws
State safety assurance;
State safety risk management
State safety promotion
State safety policy and objective

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Reference
Cidell, J. (2014). The role of major infrastructure in subregional economic development: an
empirical study of airports and cities. Journal of Economic Geography, 15(6), 1125-
1144.
Department of Infrastructure and Transport. (2019). AUSTRALIA’S STATE AVIATION
SAFETY PROGRAM. Retrieved 21 September 2019, from
https://www.infrastructure.gov.au/aviation/safety/ssp/files/ASASP.pdf
Finger, D. F., Braun, C., & Bil, C. (2017). The Impact of Electric Propulsion on the Performance
of VTOL UAVs. 66. Deutscher Luft-und Raumfahrtkongress DLRK 2017.
Johnson, W., Silva, C., & Solis, E. (2018). Concept Vehicles for VTOL Air Taxi Operations.
Neyshabouri, S., & Sherry, L. (2014, January). Analysis of Airport Surface Operations: A Case-
Study of Atlanta Hartfield Airport. In Proceedings of the Transportation Research Board
93rd Annual Meeting, Washington, DC, USA (pp. 12-16).
Shaheen, S., Cohen, A., & Farrar, E. (2018). The Potential Societal Barriers of Urban Air
Mobility (UAM).
Uber.com. (2019). Fast-Forwarding to a Future of On-Demand Urban Air Transportation.
Retrieved 21 September 2019, from https://www.uber.com/elevate.pdf
Yamaguchi, K., Lou, J., & Minato, N. (2018, December). Estimating the prices of personal air
vehicles using open data. In ISPIM Innovation Symposium (pp. 1-12). The International
Society for Professional Innovation Management (ISPIM).
Zhang, Y., & Wang, Y. (2017). Implications of Autonomous Vehicles to Airport Terminal
Planning and Design. Information Technology and Intelligent Transport Systems, 1, 23-
24.