Up, Up & Another Way: Tinley A Drop Spot For Aircraft Simulation

TINLEY PARK, IL — A trip from suburb to city could get much faster, if plans by a unique air mobility company come to fruition. Brazil-based Eve Air Mobility — a company with its eye on the sky as a new, cleaner option for urban transit using electric aircraft — has chosen Tinley Park as a landing spot for its flight simulations, giving passengers a glimpse of just how easy a commute could become.

Eve is using helicopters launching from a "landing pad" near the Tinley Park Fire Department training tower at 7750 W. 183rd St. to take passengers on a 15-minute flight from suburb to city —something they're planning to make happen with fully electric vertical takeoff and landing vehicles, or eVTOL, by the year 2026. Eve CEO Andre Stein hopes someday we'll see 240 "air taxis" along 150 routes in the Chicagloand area, he told CBS.

The aircraft is not yet approved by the Federal Aviation Administration, so anyone wanting to climb aboard to experience the flight will have to settle for a traditional Blade Air Mobility helicopter, for now. But passengers can buzz above the city, relieved at missing the traffic below —a concept that Eve executives think is within their reach.

Tinley's selection as a destination for the simulations is a feather in the cap of the south suburb, said Village Manager Pat Carr.

"It is a billion-dollar industry that is the future and Tinley Park wants to be a part of that," Carr told Patch. "It opens up our borders globally to companies that would like to locate here and bring more people to Tinley to experience our Village."

With a recent $15 million investment in Eve, United Airlines is putting its money in what could be the next big thing for inner-urban and even intracity transportation. United has also already committed to a conditional purchase of 200 of the aircraft.

"Who would have imagined that Tinley Park could potentially have a United Airlines ticket counter where you can book a flight and connect with a domestic or international flight for business or pleasure," Carr said. "It is the future."

The concept might be tough for some to grasp: a quick flight with traffic beneath you, instead of surrounding you. It's not meant to replace everyday modes of transit, but to give people another fast, comfortable option—to hover above the traffic that makes drivers curse and horns honk.

"Eve Air Mobility is focused on mobility reimagined," Laura Libert, on behalf of Eve Air Mobility. "Eve’s mission is to develop a highly scalable, safe, accessible, and green urban air mobility (UAM) ecosystem. UAM leverages the sky to better link people to cities and regions, giving them more possibilities to connect."

Some might liken the aircraft to a helicopter, but they would be incorrect. The eVTOL will take off and land vertically like a helicopter, but will use 8 rotors to run.

"They are vertical aircraft that use electric power to hover, take off and land vertically," said Libert. "They are a blend of proven technology and new innovation."

They are designed to be greener and quieter than other aircraft.

"Safe like a fixed-wing aircraft, safe like a traditional aircraft, quiet like a Prius," said Matthew Land, government relations and public relations for Eve Air Mobility.

Priced at an estimated $100 for a 20-mile route, for some it could be a viable option for a commute to an office, or a night out in the city. The test flights in Chicago are to study potential ground services, routes and what eVTOL operators will need from local authorities to make sure their operations are safe and efficient.

Flight time from the Chicago Vertiport at Roosevelt Road and Ashland Avenue is 15 minutes, and a similar flight time Chicago to the other participating helipad in Schaumburg. The company is running the simulations for $95 one way through Sept. 30, according to booking information on the company’s website.