Related Companies is partnering with Uber to build the first skyport for the Uber Air network in the United States.
Uber Elevate will be the world’s first aerial rideshare network with electric Uber Air vehicles that would transport people across cities for the same price as an UberX trip of the same distance.
As part of their partnership, Uber and Related have collaborated on a vision for a future skyport at Related’s 240-acre Santa Clara development to illustrate the benefits aerial ridesharing could provide for the Bay Area and other cities in the future.
Since 2016, Uber Elevate has been working with government and industry stakeholders to create the world’s first aerial rideshare network.
Head of Uber Elevate, Eric Allison, said: “We are thrilled to be working with Related to design skyports for Uber Air, a key part of taking Uber’s transportation platform to new heights.
“Together we look forward to spurring innovation that can help improve urban mobility in cities around the world.”
Related Companies CEO, Jeff Blau, said: “Our shared commitment to innovation and passion for cities and enhancing urban life makes this an ideal partnership.
“Related has been exploring, investing in, and implementing new forms of urban mobility from bike-share to self-driving vehicles – and urban aviation is the next frontier.
“We’re excited to work with Uber Elevate to bring new forms of mobility to our customers and communities.”
The skyport at Related’s Santa Clara development, designed by Foster + Partners, is envisioned along a major traffic artery.
The flight deck is designed to charge up to five eVTOL aircrafts at a single time. It also has a dedicated landing area and dedicated take-off area, with enough separation to allow for simultaneous flight operations.
Uber’s first U.S. Uber Air cities will be Dallas-Fort Worth/Frisco, Texas and Los Angeles, California, with a goal of holding flight demonstrations in 2020 and making aerial ridesharing commercially available to riders in 2023.
The skyport rendering with Related provides a forward looking vision for when aerial ridesharing is more widely available in cities across the U.S.
Locating a skyport in Santa Clara will be preceded by the necessary governmental collaboration, approvals and processes with an operational opening occurring in the future.
