The Federal Aviation Administration mandates that commercial drone operators maintain line of sight with their drones until technology enables safe beyond visual line-of-sight (BVLOS) operations. The ability to pilot drones using instruments instead of direct line of sight is crucial for scaling complex operations. Recently, Amazon Prime Air announced it has received additional BVLOS permissions from the FAA.

Figure 1. The new FAA certification allows human pilots to operate drones outside their visual line of sight.

Amazon Prime Air stated that these new permissions for BVLOS drone operations will enable it to expand its package-delivery services. To secure this authorization, the company developed an onboard detect-and-avoid system to ensure its drones can safely detect and avoid obstacles. According to Amazon, this system has undergone years of development, testing, and refinement. Figure 1 shows the new FAA certification allows human pilots to operate drones outside their visual line of sight.

“Our vision has remained unchanged since we began working on Prime Air: to create a safe and scalable way to deliver packages to customers in 30 minutes or less using highly autonomous drones,” Amazon said in a blog post. “To achieve our goal of delivering 500 million packages per year by drone by the end of this decade, we knew we had to design a system capable of serving highly populated areas and safer than driving to the store.”

Amazon provides drone details to FAA

Amazon has explained that it submitted detailed engineering information to the FAA regarding the design, operation, maintenance, and validation of its system and detect-and-avoid capability. The company conducted flight demonstrations for FAA inspectors, showcasing safe navigation in real-world scenarios, including interactions with planes, helicopters, and even a hot air balloon. Extensive analysis and test data have further validated the system’s safety, resulting in FAA approval for BVLOS operations, Amazon stated.

The waived regulations include 14 CFR § 107.51(c), which pertains to “Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft – Visibility.” This exemption allows operations when flight visibility observed from the control station location is less than 3 statute miles (4.8 km). Additionally waived is 14 CFR § 107.51(d), which addresses “Operating limitations for small unmanned aircraft – Cloud Clearance.” This exemption permits uncrewed aerial system (UAS) operations without meeting the minimal cloud clearance requirements of remaining 500 ft. (152.4 m) below clouds. Recently, the FAA has also granted BVLOS waivers to American Aerospace and awarded a contract to uAvionix. The FAA’s reauthorization is expected to lead to further expansion of drone delivery services.

Prime Air to expand drone delivery area

This new authorization allows Amazon Prime Air to expand its drone delivery area in College Station, Texas, offering customers a wide selection of items including household essentials, beauty products, and drugstore items. Prime Air has been conducting tests in Northern California and plans to extend its service to around Phoenix.

Later this year, drone deliveries will integrate into Amazon’s delivery network, deploying from facilities located near Same-Day Delivery sites to ensure faster delivery of a broader range of items. Safety remains a top priority for Amazon. The company stated that its onboard technology will ensure compliance with stringent safety standards as it expands its delivery capabilities.

In 2020, the FAA granted Amazon an Air Carrier Certificate, allowing the company to operate as an airline and deliver small packages via drone. With this Part 135 certification and the newly granted BVLOS permissions, Prime Air is positioned to expand drone delivery services to more densely populated areas.

Reference:

1. https://www.therobotreport.com/amazon-prime-air-gets-faa-approval-extended-bvlos-drone-deliveries/
2. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3bDyeUiWL3M&t=2s

Cite this article:

Gokila G (2024), Amazon's Prime Air Delivery Drones Have Received a Significant Clearance from the FAA, AnaTechMaz, pp. 269