Eve Air Mobility’s developing Electric Takeoff and Landing Vehicle, as depicted in this rendering, is intended to provide air taxi service in the Chicago region within a few years. The company will use conventional helicopters for passenger flights testing the logistics of such service between Chicago and Schaumburg from Sept. 14 to 30. (Courtesy of village of Schaumburg)
Helistops in Schaumburg and Tinley Park will be used this month to test the logistics of potential air taxi routes to and from Chicago.
However, conventional helicopters will be used in the short term rather than the still-developing electric aircraft for which the tests are preparing.
Eve Air Mobility is behind the tests for the future use of Electric Takeoff and Landing Vehicles that use electric power to hover, take off and land vertically and are still awaiting approval by the Federal Aviation Administration.
The testing beginning next week will gather data on such factors as air traffic and infrastructure needs for the future vehicles, Schaumburg Transportation Director Karyn Robles said.
The company Blade Air Mobility Inc. will provide the helicopters for the tests.
Ground testing will take place on Monday, followed by 15-minute passenger flights at $150 per seat beginning Wednesday, Sept. 14, and continuing on weekdays through Friday, Sept. 30.
Flights can be booked at the Blade website at blade.com/chicagoxp.
The Schaumburg Municipal Heliport is at 1050 American Lane, just west of Meacham Road and Woodfield Mall. The helicopter flights using that location will begin or end at Vertiport Chicago, 1339 S. Wood St., southwest of the intersection of Roosevelt Road and Ashland Avenue in the city.
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