Eve, Blade Partner to Simulate eVTOL Operations

Embraer’s Eve will conduct its first North American UAM simulation using helicopters in partnership with Blade Urban Air Mobility. With these simulations, the company aims to study operations, ground services, passenger journeys and eVTOL operator needs, creating more accessible and faster connections to Downtown Chicago. Eve will conduct its Chicago, Ill. UAM simulation over three weeks, starting with ground tests on September 12th and passenger flights on the 14th. Following the simulation, the city of Chicago will gain knowledge about the infrastructure and ecosystem needed to enable the launch and expected long-term growth of UAM in the area.

“Simulating the eVTOL operation in Chicago allows us to study how people will experience this service and understand the entire ecosystem requirements for our product and services, while showcasing the benefit of Urban Air Mobility in one of North America’s most prominent and populated cities,” said André Stein, co-CEO of Eve. “We are wrapping up preparations to execute these simulations seamlessly and look forward to helping prepare Chicago for a local zero-emission UAM solution that is quiet, efficient, and sustainable.”

Eve will perform the ground tests at Vertiport Chicago, an existing downtown heliport facility simulating services, infrastructure, and equipment requirements for eVTOL. In planned UAM infrastructure, Vertiports will be any area of land or a structure used for the landing, take-off, charging and operation of eVTOL vehicles.

“For Eve, it is essential to understand and address through these projects involving partners and the community the key challenges associated with the main pillars of the UAM ecosystem. Our proposal brings together all stakeholders and counts on different views and feedback to structure and deliver the best solutions,” said Luiz Mauad, Vice President of Services and Fleet Operations at Eve.

For this simulation, Eve has formed a consortium of partners, including Blade, Republic Airways, Halo Aviation, Vertiport Chicago, Village of Tinley Park, Village of Schaumburg, ACCIONA, SkyWest, Inc. and Speedbird Aero. A helicopter replicating Eve’s future eVTOL will transport 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. 

Rendering of Embraer’s Eve eVTOL in flight

Why it matters: Blade and Eve partnering in Chicago to simulate eVTOL operations will provide great operational data to eVTOL makers. Special considerations like loading/unloading times, Vertiport operations, and infrastructure requirements will serve to bring a better product offering for aerial mobility in the future. Expect similar studies to be conducted as eVTOL makers pivot from design and testing to operationalizing their prototypes.

Source: Eve press release