Amazon to Expand Prime Air Drone Deliveries in the US After Getting FAA Approval

Amazon has received approval from the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) allowing it to fly its delivery drones over greater distances. The company’s announcement from May 30 states that this will allow its Prime Air service to reach even more customers via drones from their facility in College Station, Texas.

The FAA regulations require all commercial drones to be flown in the operator’s line of sight. The agency can grant permission on a case-by-case basis to operate drones beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) if proper measures are in place to ensure the drones can be monitored and operated safely. Amazon has invested years in the development of an obstacle-avoidance system to comply with these conditions.

The newly acquired permission will allow Amazon to increase the delivery area in College Station, which is currently the only place offering the Prime Air delivery service, after the company decided to close its delivery site in Lockeford, California. The same press release revealed that Amazon plans to expand the service to Tolleson, Arizona, by the end of this year, with more US locations to follow in 2025.

“As Amazon embarks on the national expansion of its Amazon Drone Delivery Program, we’re proud to have their innovative presence in our community. By bringing this service to new communities, they’re not just delivering goods; they’re delivering opportunities and economic growth for all,” said Juan F. Rodriguez, mayor of Tolleson. “Amazon’s commitment to innovation exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our city forward.”

Amazon’s Prime Air program will not only expand geographically in 2024, but will also introduce a new proprietary drone. An announcement from October 2023 revealed details of the MK30 drone, which is poised to replace the current MK27 model. The main improvements include increased range (twice as much as the current model) and quieter propellers which will “reduce the MK30’s perceived noise by almost half.”

The drone delivery industry is rapidly developing, and Amazon isn’t the first delivery company to receive the FAA’s BVLOS flight permission. A number of companies have already received such permission, including Wing, FedEx, UPS, and Zipline. For instance, the drone-delivery firm Wing, owned by Alphabet, received its permission in December last year and is already providing services for several companies, including Walmart, Walgreens, and Doordash.