Amazon Applies to FAA for Permission to Start Test Flights

Amazon wants to start flying its UAS, moving from what some called a PR stunt, to a true delivery business.  But to do that, they need to conduct test flights.  The company has now formally requested an exemption from Federal Aviation Administration rules that largely prohibit the use of UASfor commercial purposes.

The request was posted to Regulations.gov, the official government website for comments on regulatory matters.  Amazon’s letter should draw attention to FAA regulations which to date have received very little official commentary from an industry still struggling to find its voice.  The message is clear, Amazon wants to fly and thinks that businesses can be at least as safe as hobbyists.

The company cited innovation as a driving factor in their request for an exemption from FAA rules, stating:

Congress directed the FAA ‘to safely accelerate the integration of civil unmanned aircraft systems into the national airspace system’ and under Section 333 of that law, gave the FAA power to grant innovators ‘expedited operational authorization’ to do so.”

Amazon is seeking an exemption so the company can conduct additional research and development for Prime Air.  The company claims to have made rapid developments in its Prime Air programme by testing UASs inside its research and development lab in Seattle.  Over the last five months the Prime Air UAS have undergone agility, flight duration, redundancy and sense-and-avoid tests.

The company claims its UAS can “travel over 50 miles per hour, and will carry 5‐pound payloads, which cover 86% of products sold on Amazon.”   The company noted the backward nature of FAA regulations, which in the words of Amazon:

allow hobbyists and manufacturers of model aircraft wide latitude in flying their sUAS outdoors. Because Amazon is a commercial enterprise we have been limited to conducting R&D flights indoors or in other countries. Of course, Amazon would prefer to keep the focus, jobs, and investment of this important research and development initiative in the United States by conducting private research and development operations outdoors near Seattle– where our next generation R&D lab and distinguished team of engineers, scientists and aeronautical professionals are located.

Amazon wants the ability to safely innovate and “to do what thousands of hobbyists and manufacturers of model aircraft do every day.” The company is promising to self-impose much stronger safety measures than those currently required by the FAA for hobbyists.

Amazon’s request is simple, they want the ability to operate drones in the same manner that responsible hobbyists will.  But instead of doing it for fun, Amazon hopes to do it to develop their business — such commercial use is currently, and inexplicably, illegal.  Amazon’s request is the type of operation the FAA should allow — this company (like many others) is willing to put their reputation, finances, and policies on the line, no doubt backed by a big insurance policy.

Source: Forbes