Amazon Drone Testing to be Transferred Abroad if FAA Rejects Exemption

Online shopping giant Amazon has expressed its disappointment towards the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) delay in approving the test for unmanned fleet delivery or commercial drones.

In its letter to the FAA, Amazon stated that the development of drone regulations risks was again delayed further. The regulation is imperative for the company's drone tests. In the same letter, Amazon Vice President for Global Public Policy, Paul Misener explains that the drones, "will get the packages to customers in 30 minutes or less."

Misener adds that their customers would be happy about the service that Amazon Prime Air delivery system, through its commercial drones, will be able to provide. FAA UAS Integration Manager James Williams was seeking additional information for the approval of the exemption Amazon is requesting.

Sen. Diane Feinstein has also showed her support for the commercial drones ban, stating that aircraft pilots will have to resort to emergency maneuvers just to prevent collision with a commercial drone. Amazon further argued that their drones will only be flying at a limit of 400 ft. and the Amazon drone testing will further limit their activities.

Amazon has tried to ask for an exemption on the drone ban, but the only way to get it approved is for FAA to grant them an approval. The company has made it clear that they might resort to testing their drones abroad if permission will not be granted.

"Amazon urges the FAA to swiftly approve our Section 333 petition, submitted nearly five months ago. Without the ability to test outdoors in the Unites States soon, we will have no choice but to divert even more of our UAS research and development resources abroad."

At the moment Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS) operations are divided into three categories: Civil UAS, Public UAS, and Model UAS.

Amazon's request for drone testing falls under the Civil UAS, which has Section 333 of the FAA Modernization and Reform Act of 2012. The section has special rules for certain UAS for commercial operations in a controlled, low risk environment.