Uber copter
Ideally, Uber Elevate’s goal is to expand this partnership in the next three years and build a network of eVTOL (electric vertical takeoff and landing) aircrafts in Dallas, Los Angeles, and Melbourne. The fleet consists of twin engine and dual pilot aircrafts. Uber Copter is operated by HeliFlite, a helicopter operator known for their high standards for safety and comfort combined. I was half-expecting to have to wear those massive headphones but the noise was minimal, and they did not offer me those headphones because it is not required. The aerial view over New York City was pretty beautiful, and the ride itself was exceptionally smooth. Multiple people can book an Uber Copter ride and share a flight, utilizing Uber’s data modeling to ensure riders all arrive at the heliport at a similar time for boarding and take-off. The theory behind Uber Air is that the Uber Copter option can be used the same way Uber Pool operates. When I booked my helicopter ride, I simply chose Uber Copter in my Uber app, scheduled my Uber ride to bring me to the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, and booked the helicopter to take me to JFK. “We built this multimodal app experience to take riders between ground and air transportation so that five passengers have perfectly timed, fully-integrated journeys.” “We are excited to bring Uber Copter to all Uber riders so they can experience our first iteration of aerial ridesharing” says Eric Allison, Head of Uber Elevate. The first release from Uber Elevate, this is the start of a much larger network that Uber hopes to build. Uber Copter is Uber’s first multimodal option on the rideshare application that allows users to book an eight-minute helicopter flight from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport to JFK Airport near Terminal 8. The newest launch from Uber is prepared to change the how we travel in more ways than one. Living in New York City means you are either lugging your suitcase on public transportation to get to JFK Airport or, you’re sitting in a car in bumper-to-bumper traffic that makes the highway feel more like a parking lot than anything else. Being in a new destination is very different than getting to a new destination. Traveling allows you to experience new cultures, taste foreign cuisine, and hopefully snag a few good photos along the way. Spending long weekends in Miami or escaping to Europe for a week during the holidays are both wonderful treats for those with a case of wanderlust.