Amazon has received a special “experimental airworthiness certificate†from the FAA. Although seemingly insignificant, what seemed like an impossibility in the United States has now changed. Although initially limiting, the certificate does provide Amazon with the legal ability to conduct research, testing, and training of its Prime Air delivery drone concept outdoors.
The public learned of Amazon’s delivery drone concept in December 2013 and released a highlight reel that of footage shot outside of the US. The reason for this was because Amazon did not want to violate any FAA regulations.But, with it’s latest move, Amazon was granted the special certificate after threatening to move the Prime Air drone delivery testing overseas.
Over that past few years the FAA has been slow to broach the subject of private and especially commercial drones. However, as the technology has become more widely available it has made significant steps in drafting regulations for commercial drone use. The certificate issued to Amazon does not mean you’ll soon see test drones arriving at your door. There are conditions that insist the drone must be within the visual range of the operator at all times. Furthermore, in the case for Amazon it is stipulated that the pilot must be a certified pilot with a valid medical certificate.
What will Amazon be planning to do with this if the technology is proven reliable and efficient? Could this also have an effect in the other areas of logistics? Could DHL have a fleet soon, as they have also performed some testing by delivering medicinal packages to islands in Northern Europe.
Perhaps this will add another element into the freight forwarding industry? Although it’s unlikely that drone freight will be specialization, it could become an additional service offered by freight forwarders or express couriers as the cost of the technology steadily decreases and becomes much more easily available.
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