"It's being called the new way to fly without all the hassles. Pilot Scott Clark with Blue Sky Taxi joined us to talk about how to take advantage of the service."

"Imagine traveling the Midwest in a private aircraft for approximately the same price as a car service. You don’t have to imagine any longer. With BlueSky Taxi’s innovative air taxi system, private air travel is no longer a dream for all but the fortunate few.

"LAKE BLUFF - The same aircraft that Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie use for their private transportation is used by a new air taxi company headquartered here. BlueSky Taxi flies Chicago area residents on shorter trips averaging 300 to 400 miles. Trips that used to span two days due to driving time can now be shaved down to a day trip. "You just hail a cab and we fly you. It's a kind of revolutionary method of transportation," said Mark Kiela.

Just like a ground taxi service, air taxi rates are charged by the minute. The cockpit holds a meter, which starts the minute the engine starts and stops when the engine is off. "We're not elitists. We don't aim to serve high executives," Kiela said. "We try to be very close to the ground with our prices. Tickets must be affordable for middle business people." Rates start at about $495 an hour, or $8.25 a minute. Their rates are competitive with driving rates, Kiela said. A flight from Chicago Executive Airport to Champaign costs $412. The flight takes about 50 minutes, compared to driving about 160 miles. "We do compete successfully with ground-based transportation. Yes, we are competitors,".
To "hail" an air taxi, a passenger calls the reservation line up to an hour prior to desired takeoff. The pilot meets the passenger in the waiting room five minutes before takeoff, runs through safety procedures and gets in the air. Passengers range from college students and business people to hunters and vacationers going to northern Wisconsin.

A fleet of four Cirrus SR22-G3s gets them where they want to go - and back. Kiela ordered three more that he expects to be available in the next few months. This one-engine airplane can take up to three passengers (who ride at the same rate as one person). It flies at approximately 230 mph and can reach an altitude of about 17,500 feet. A team of seven pilots does all the flying. They are required to have a commercial pilot's license and log at least 1,200 hours of flight time. Most commercial companies only require 750 hours of flight time, Kiela said.

Scott Clark, chief pilot, said BlueSky Taxi is filling a need that commercial airlines are abandoning. Bigger airline companies are not flying to certain airports anymore, such as Springfield, because it's not profitable for them anymore, he said. But smaller airplanes, like the ones BlueSky flies, burn less fuel and can afford to make shorter runs.

"This is the future: smaller, comfortable, customized travel. That's the future, not big heavy airliners," Clark said. Alternatives to air taxis are few. There's driving, taking a commercial flight or chartering a flight. There are two air taxi services in the Southwest, one of which is planning to service the Chicago area next spring. Imagine Air Jet Services has been around since November 2004. BlueSky, a much newer company, launched in January 2008. Imagine, based in Georgia, currently has five airplanes in its fleet, but is adding two more that will be serviceable by February 2009, said Haroon Qureshi, public relations and sales director. Its current fleet consists of the Cirrus SR22 and the Eclipse 500.

The new planes, the TBMs, will burn less fuel, fly further and carry up to five passengers. These are the reason Imagine is expanding to the Chicago area. The pricing formula differs from BlueSky's metered system. A flight from Waukegan to Springfield, which is about 200 miles, would cost $836 each way and would have a flight time of about one hour and 10 minutes. The same flight from BlueSky would take 60 minutes and cost $495. Factors like airplane costs, mileage and pilots' salaries determine the rates. Imagine does not have a flat mileage rate.

"We're excited that (BlueSky) is out there. People don't realize there's this new method of transportation, but it is the future," Qureshi said.

For information, call 1-877-359-2511 or visit the Web at www.blueskytaxi.com"

"North Shore residents love to travel but hate the hassle. Mark Kiela is the brains behind Lincolnshire-based BlueSky Taxi, the Midwest’s only air taxi service. BlueSky Taxi can fly to nearly 400 regional airports in the Midwest, generally within a two-hour flight radius from Chicago.

“With an air taxi, you pay like a taxi in the Loop,” says Mark, a Lake Bluff resident. “You sit in the plane, and the clock starts ticking the moment the pilot engages the engine. You fly, you land. We shut the engine off, the clock stops ticking.

You’re not responsible for even a penny beyond that.” It’s a pretty penny right now at (top price is $3.5 per mile). But since the high-tech Cirrus SR22-G3 planes can carry a pilot and three passengers, for busy professionals, it’s money well spent. Say you’re traveling from Wheeling’s Chicago Executive Airport (formerly Palwaukee) to Champaign. BlueSky Taxi can transform the three-hour drive into a 50-minute flight costing three passengers approximately $137 each.

“That’s the whole idea of bringing the price tag of air transportation close to the ground, so we can actually offer this type of transportation for middle-class business people,” Mark says. It’s also about what you don’t get at BlueSky Taxi: No one- to two-hour advance check-in. No endless conga dances through security lines. No getting bumped off your flight. Just make a reservation, show a driver’s license, and get on board. “We always ask our customers to show up five minutes prior [to the flight],” Mark says. “That’s how long it will take to board our aircraft. And we can guarantee you’ll be airborne in the next seven minutes. So the convenience, comfort, and relaxation of traveling are unbeatable—and it’s unheard of in regular commercial flying.” The company offers one hour of free waiting time for return flights. Additional waiting time is $45 per hour. Two computer screens, not gauges, help guide the four state-of-the-art Cirrus SR22-G3 planes. The aircraft cruises at between 170 and 205 mph.

BlueSky employs 13 or 14 employees, including seven pilots. Theirs isn’t an easy job. “Even if we employ pilots from big commercial jetliners, they have to go through a very rigorous FAA supervised training program,” explains Mark. Tests, he adds, include flight examinations and ground tests “regardless of whether they have 15,000 or 5,000 hours” logged as pilot. Tests are repeated every six months. In case of an emergency, the aircraft is equipped with a parachute capable of suspending the plane to guide it to a safe landing. BlueSky first took flight in January. Mark—a Lake Bluff resident—says two or three flights a day is common. And they expect this summer to be a big season for them. Flights are based out of Chicago Executive Airport, DuPage Airport in West Chicago, and Waukegan Regional Airport.

It can serve more than 400 airports throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio. “We’re operating from very small, cozy, elegant terminals,” says Mark, “so you don’t have to hassle with the crowded terminals, the security lines, et cetera.” The client base is split 50/50 among business and leisure travelers. “It’s a high-end bracket clientele, at this point,” he explains. “There are a huge number of Chicago-area residents with summer homes in northern Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, throughout the Midwest. As soon as these people are satisfied with all the services, they’ll go spread the word. They’ll educate friends. As soon as they realize the benefi t behind the price tag, the price will start to go down and we’ll start to build this pyramid of clientele.” Luggage is limited on BlueSky flights. “Two people with two big golf bags” is Mark’s description of the suggested top payload.

The airline transports pets for no charge. It’s popular with hunters, but no ammunition is allowed on fl ight per FAA regulations. “We still rely on the traditional vehicle-based ground transportation for the middle range,” says Mark. “I’m talking about two, three, four, or up to six hours of driving. It’s the 21st century, but we’re still stuck behind the steering wheel.” Their mission is to provide the best on-demand, private air travel for busy professionals. “We’re going to be the air taxi of Chicago for average and middle-class people,” says Mark, “and also a good alternative for people used to fl ying private jets.” For more information on BlueSky Taxi, visit www.blueskytaxi.com or call 877-359-2511. — TOM PRENTISS."

"Bumper-to-bumper traffic to the airport. Long lines at security. Canceled flights. Missed connections. The list of air travel clichés continues to grow—so much so that many have vowed never to fly again. Lucky for travelers, Mark Kiela —founder of BlueSky Taxi—has developed a model for ondemand airline travel that’s certain to revolutionize how people move from one destination to another. BlueSky Taxi travels to and from more than 300 airports, generally within a two-hour flight radius from Chicago (or 380 miles). Destinations beyond this range are also available by request. “Our goal is to make on-demand airline travel accessible to people who may not have considered it before,” offers Mark. “In the past, only big corporations could afford this type of travel. But with BlueSky, small business owners, insurance agents, doctors, congressmen, or parents who just want to deliver their children safely to college can all take advantage of this type of transportation.

BlueSky also provides a luxurious way to spend a romantic evening in a place like Lake Geneva.” BlueSky fares are based on the amount of time needed to fly from the point of departure to the destination and are surprisingly comparable to land-based forms of transportation like limousines or taxicabs.

As Mark began to research the potential of this travel market, he learned that approximately 70 million Chicagoland residents travel an average of more than two hours daily by car for business. “We want people to think of us as an air taxi. All the rules that apply to a taxi service apply to us,” explains Mark. “Within two hours of you calling to make a reservation, we can have you in the air, on your way to your destination—minus all of the inconveniences typical of a major airport.” For example, if you’re a businessperson based in Chicago and you have a meeting in downtown Madison, it may take up to three hours to make this trip in typical morning rush-hour traffi c. But if you choose, instead, to fly to your meeting using BlueSky Taxi, your flight time would be only 30 minutes— reducing your travel time by nearly 300%! “People don’t realize the number of small airports that are located throughout the Chicagoland area,” says Mark. “It’s hard for some to imagine that they can just drive to the airport, park their car, and board a plane that’s waiting for them.” BlueSky’s Web site illustrates the number of airports available but encourages interested clients to let their customer service representatives (who are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week) help them locate a departure point that’s most convenient.

The BlueSky Taxi fleet is composed of the Cirrus SR22-G3 aircraft, a three-passenger airplane. “The Cirrus SR22-G3 is the fastest and safest small airplane on the market,” says Mark, who knows that many of his potential clients may be leery about fl ying on a small aircraft. Each of these airplanes is equipped with a parachute that can suspend the entire aircraft, should the plane experience any type of trouble while airborne. “Only five times in the history of this airplane has the parachute ever had to be used. But in each case, the pilot and passengers walked away without injury.” All of BlueSky’s pilots have been certifi ed to fl y commercial aircraft used by airlines such as United and American, in addition to the BlueSky aircraft. “We want our customers to experience the convenience and luxury of flying with BlueSky. But most importantly, we want them to feel safe,” Mark says, reminding travelers that air travel is statistically much safer than traveling by car. For more information about BlueSky Taxi, call 1-877-FLY-2511 (877-359-2511) or visit their Web site at www.blueskytaxi.com."

"North Shore residents love to travel but hate the hassle. Mark is the brains behind Lake Bluff-based BlueSky Taxi, the Midwest’s only air taxi service. BlueSky Taxi can fly to nearly 400 regional airports in the Midwest, generally within a two-hour flight radius from Chicago.

“With an air taxi, you pay like a taxi in the Loop,” says Mark, a Lake Bluff resident. “You sit in the plane, and the clock starts ticking the moment the pilot engages the engine. You fly, you land. We shut the engine off, the clock stops ticking. You’re not responsible for even a penny beyond that.” It’s a pretty penny right now at (top price is $3.50 per mile). But since the high-tech Cirrus SR22-G3 planes can carry a pilot and three passengers, for busy professionals, it’s money well spent. Say you’re traveling from Wheeling’s Chicago Executive Airport (formerly Palwaukee) to Champaign. BlueSky Taxi can transform the three-hour drive into a 50-minute flight costing three passengers approximately $137 each. “That’s the whole idea of bringing the price tag of air transportation close to the ground, so we can actually offer this type of transportation for middle-class business people,” Mark says. It’s also about what you don’t get at BlueSky Taxi: No one- to two-hour advance check-in. No endless conga dances through security lines. No getting bumped off your flight. Just make a reservation, show a driver’s license, and get on board. “We always ask our customers to show up five minutes prior [to the flight],” Mark says. “That’s how long it will take to board our aircraft. And we can guarantee you’ll be airborne in the next seven minutes. So the convenience, comfort, and relaxation of traveling are unbeatable—and it’s unheard of in regular commercial flying.” The company offers one hour of free waiting time for return flights. Additional waiting time is $45 per hour.

Two computer screens, not gauges, help guide the four state-of-the-art Cirrus SR22-G3 planes. The aircraft cruises at between 170 and 205 mph. BlueSky employs 13 or 14 employees, including seven pilots. Theirs isn’t an easy job. “Even if we employ pilots from big commercial jetliners, they have to go through a very rigorous FAA supervised training program,” explains Mark. Tests, he adds, include flight examinations and ground tests “regardless of whether they have 15,000 or 5,000 hours” logged as pilot. Tests are repeated every six months. In case of an emergency, the aircraft is equipped with a parachute capable of suspending the plane to guide it to a safe landing. BlueSky first took flight in January. Mark says two or three flights a day is common.

And they expect this summer to be a big season for them. Flights are based out of Chicago Executive Airport, DuPage Airport in West Chicago, and Waukegan Regional Airport. It can serve more than 400 airports throughout Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Missouri, and Ohio. “We’re operating from very small, cozy, elegant terminals,” says Mark, “so you don’t have to hassle with the crowded terminals, the security lines, et cetera.” The client base is split 50/50 among business and leisure travelers. “It’s a high-end bracket clientele, at this point,” he explains. “There are a huge number of Chicago- area residents with summer homes in northern Wisconsin, Michigan, Iowa, throughout the Midwest. As soon as these people are satisfied with all the services, they’ll go spread the word. They’ll educate friends. As soon as they realize the benefit behind the price tag, the price will start to go down and we’ll start to build this pyramid of clientele.” Luggage is limited on BlueSky flights. “Two people with two big golf bags” is Mark’s description of the suggested top payload.

The airline transports pets for no charge. It’s popular with hunters, but no ammunition is allowed on flight per FAA regulations. The passion for flying led Mark to help fill what he sees as a gaping hole in the region’s air travel system. “We still rely on the traditional vehicle-based ground transportation for the middle range,” says Mark. “I’m talking about two, three, four, or up to six hours of driving. It’s the 21st century, but we’re still stuck behind the steering wheel.” Their mission is to provide the best on-demand, private air travel for busy professionals. “We’re going to be the air taxi of Chicago for average and middle-class people,” says Mark, “and also a good alternative for people used to flying private jets.” For more information on BlueSky Taxi, visit www.blueskytaxi.com or call 877-359-2511"