Eve Holding (Eve) is to conduct a North American urban air mobility (UAM) simulation and instead of using eVTOLs the company will be using helicopters powered by Blade Air Mobility (Blade). The intention is for Eve to study operations, ground services, passenger journeys and eVTOL operator needs, creating more accessible and faster connections to Downtown Chicago.
Eve will carry out the Chicago UAM simulation over a three-weeks period, beginning with ground tests on September 12 and passenger flights on September 14. After the simulation, Chicago will gain knowledge about the infrastructure and ecosystem required to enable the launch and expected long-term growth of UAM in the area. Eve will carry out ground tests at Vertiport Chicago which is an existing downtown heliport facility, simulating services, infrastructure, and equipment requirements for the eVTOL.
In UAM infrastructure, a vertiport is an area of land or a structure which will be used for the landing, take-off, charging and operation of eVTOL aircraft. A helicopter which will replicate Eve's planned eVTOL will carry passengers from the Vertiport Chicago facility to two helistops located northwest and southwest of Chicago. The first route will connect Vertiport Chicago to Schaumburg Municipal Helistop and the second route will connect Vertiport Chicago to Tinley Park Helistop in Illinois.
Backed by Embraer S.A.'s more than 50-year history of aerospace expertise, and with a singular focus, Eve is taking a holistic approach to progressing the UAM ecosystem, with an advanced eVTOL project, comprehensive global services and support network and a unique air traffic management solution.
Blade is a technology-powered, global air mobility platform committed to reducing travel friction by providing cost-effective air transportation alternatives to some of the most congested ground routes in the U.S. and abroad. Today, the Blade predominantly uses helicopters and amphibious aircraft for its passenger routes and is also one of the largest air medical transporters of human organs for transplant in the world.
