Amazon may one day be sending drones to your doorstep, after all.
The Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) proposed drone regulations, which they unveiled earlier this year, were initially seen as a blow to plans for Amazon Prime Air, the service that would deliver small packages via drone to customers’ doorsteps in 30 minutes or less. The rules would restrict all drone flights to below 500 feet, and require that they remain within view of an operator at all times.
But on Thursday, the agency gave Amazon “experimental” permission to conduct research and trials for their drone delivery service. The guidelines are still fairly strict, however, and only grant permission for one specific type of drone:
Amazon will also have to report back regularly to the FAA, with monthly data on the number of flights conducted and any glitches or malfunctions experienced.
Since FAA drone rules have yet to be finalized, this experimental phase of research and development could turn into an opportunity for Amazon to nudge the rules in their favor.
Amazon has already begun working with NASA on developing a drone-friendly air-traffic management system. One of regulators’ biggest concerns with drones is that they may interfere with low-flying aircraft.
