Uber Elevate and UberAir are the names of the service they will launch with Vertical takeoff and landing (VTOL) aircraft . Uber Elevate has already started exploring the barriers we'll need to overcome to make this a reality. Read our white paper to learn more about the future.

Uber is working with respected aerospace partners at Embraer, Bell Helicopter, Pipistrel, Aurora Flight Sciences, and Mooney Aviation. Experts agree that the technical challenges of building a drone capable of carrying passengers are crackable. New materials facilitate lightweight vehicles. Distributed electric propulsion—i.e., putting lots of rotors all over the place—makes vertical take off and landing possible, with less noise and pollution than a helicopter. Advanced computer controls make the vehicles easier to fly, and eventually should make them autonomous.

Uber is proposing point-to-point transport from airpads.