Amazon has just received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to fly its delivery drones longer distances, marking a significant milestone for the e-commerce giant. This approval allows Amazon to expand its Prime Air service, which utilizes delivery drones to fly individual packages to customers.
In order to receive this approval, Amazon had to develop Beyond Visual Line of Sight (BVLOS) technology for its drones, ensuring they can detect and avoid obstacles in the air. The company showcased this technology to FAA inspectors, demonstrating the drones’ ability to navigate safely around other aircraft.
This news comes shortly after Alphabet’s Wing received a similar FAA exemption last December, allowing them to fly their drones beyond the visual line of sight as well. Amazon plans to initially expand its drone delivery operations in College Station, Texas, before integrating drone deliveries into its same-day delivery network later this year.
With the goal of delivering 500 million packages per year by the end of the decade, Amazon needed this FAA approval to continue scaling its drone delivery operations. This announcement follows the recent decision to end Prime Air drone deliveries in Lockeford, California, with plans to begin drone deliveries in Tolleson, Arizona.
Amazon is not the only tech company venturing into drone deliveries, as Walmart has also introduced Wing drone deliveries to limited Superstores. Other companies partnering with Wing for drone deliveries include Walgreens and DoorDash, highlighting the growing trend of utilizing drones for efficient and innovative delivery services.