Amazon recently has received a green light from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Saturday, August, 29, having been issued a Part 153 certificate to “safely and efficiently deliver packages to customers”.
Amazon Prime Air had to go through five stages to receive the FFA certificate: pre-application; formal application; design assessment; performance assessment; and administrative functions.
The idea is still in the trial stages, so don’t be expecting a drone delivery anytime soon. The package that can be carried by the drone is only 5lb or less.
David Carbon, vice president of Prime Air, said, “This certification is an important step forward for Prime Air and indicates the FAA’s confidence in Amazon’s operating and safety procedures for an autonomous drone delivery service that will one day deliver packages to our customers around the world.”
“We will continue to develop and refine our technology to fully integrate delivery drones into the airspace, and work closely with the FAA and other regulators around the world to realize our vision of 30-minute delivery,” he added.
Caused by the pandemic, this is not the only innovative idea, it will be welcomed by many in the light as it limits person-to-person.
A spokesperson for the FAA said, “The FAA supports innovation that is beneficial to the public, especially during health- or weather-related crisis.”
Amazon has sought approval for a long time from the FAA, which first began testing drones in 2013. Petition for the administration’s approval has been submitted last year, stating it would conduct the deliveries with lightweight packages in areas of low population density.
Source: Unilad