The adage goes that time is the one thing we are unable to acquire more of, and it’s the ability to save time that is one of the main factors in people deciding to use private air travel. While private flight has long been a mainstay for the business or corporate commuter, access to it has filtered down to the masses in recent years as affordability has increased. While many in the aviation industry anxiously await the arrival of autonomous eVTOL aircraft to complete their travel connections, the ability to do this today is provided by one type of aircraft — the helicopter. Recognizing the desire of many travelers to make the most of their valuable time, Blade has been offering short-distance, by-the-seat flights to and from city centers and airports for almost a decade.
Two years ago, during the NBAA Business Aviation & Convention in Las Vegas, Nevada, Blade began offering one-way trips between the convention center and the aircraft static display at Henderson Executive Airport to introduce more customers to the services it provides. Those who have attended the NBAA-BACE in the past will be familiar with the often-lengthy bus ride to the static display. Although the chartered buses are relatively comfortable, traffic can easily turn the 15-mile drive into a 30- to 45-minute excursion. Blade saw that providing an airborne alternative would be a perfect way to demonstrate the time-saving it offers at locations around the world. The plan was a resounding success, as every flight was booked.
The company repeated the service at NBAA-BACE this year (held again in Las Vegas), with the LZ for departure from the convention center adjacent to the bus pickup. This allowed non-flyers to witness first-hand what they were missing out on.
Blade does not own any aircraft, but partners with operators in various locations. For NBAA-BACE, it joined forces with Orbic Air — a Burbank, California-based charter and tour provider. The flights were handled by Orbic’s Airbus H130 and H125 helicopters.
Blade president and general counsel Melissa Tomkiel told Vertical that the flights at the convention were about brand recognition as well as proof of concept.
“We want to show that we can activate around these special events,” she said. “We want to show how seamless it is to download our app, book a seat, travel with other people at an affordable price point, and solve a big problem for congestion on the ground.”
The company’s participation at events like NBAA-BACE — and presence in major cities around the world — helps build a base of passengers in the Blade network, she added.
“When eVTOLs come out, our customers will know they had good experiences with Blade and they will trust us and be confident that we’re going to deliver a great product,” she said. “They will recognize, from first-hand experience, that Blade will get them to their destination safely and quickly.”
The success of the undertaking is in the numbers.
“The reception has been incredibly positive,” said Blade chief financial officer Will Heyburn, with the company going beyond the number of passengers it flew two years ago. “In fact, that is the reason we added another aircraft this year — we needed another one to handle the volume.”
Asked if Blade envisions a time when there are no buses and all attendees are flown to the static display, Tomkiel said: “Aviation conferences are going to be the most likely scenario where that would happen, but it’s probably part of the solution, not the whole. Much like electric vehicles, you see many more on the roads now than you did five years ago, but it’s going to take a while before all vehicles are electric. The same holds true to aviation and eVTOLs — that’s a longer timeline.”
Heyburn added: “It’s important that people realize that we don’t want to be a science project. We want to show that this is in line with everything we do: this is a sustainable business with economics that make sense. This is the perfect opportunity to demonstrate that.”
To experience Blade’s concept in real-time, Vertical was offered the opportunity to be flown to the remote static display in Henderson. One-way flights begin at $195, and by utilizing the easily navigable smartphone app, the process was not dissimilar to booking an Uber or Lyft. Once confirmation was received, all that was required was to arrive at the departure location a few minutes before the flight. It was conducted in an H125, with all four rear and the one front-left seat occupied.
Following a quick — but thorough — pre-flight safety briefing, liftoff was right on schedule. Departing southbound along the west side of Las Vegas Boulevard immediately showed not only the time-saving aspect versus driving, but also provided the added benefit of a picturesque airborne view of the myriad resorts and iconic sights of The Strip. Our pilot even piped in some Frank Sinatra over the intercom in our noise-canceling headsets to set the mood.
Before the enjoyment of the flight could even be absorbed, we were already on approach to the LZ at the static display. A mere 10 minutes from liftoff to touchdown, all in the comfort of a modern helicopter. Upon landing, we were greeted by a golf cart which took us to the Blade reception booth, allowing access to the NBAA aircraft exhibit.
As Tomkiel said, one of Blade’s goals of offering this service is a proof of concept. Having personally spent countless hours on charter buses over the years, traversing back and forth from convention halls to static displays, this affordable alternative concept has shown to be a success. It is also evident that Blade has positioned itself to be ready for the impending adaptation of urban air mobility into the daily lives of both casual and corporate travelers. Watch for Blade at the next gathering of NBAA in Las Vegas next year — but be forewarned, you may want to book early. The word is out.
