Amazon
Amazon's delivery drone service, Amazon Prime Air, has already delivered a handful of items in both California and Texas just in time for the Christmas holiday.
"Our aim is to safely introduce our drones to the skies. We are starting in these communities and will gradually expand deliveries to more customers over time," Amazon Air spokesperson Natalie Banko told KTXL Fox 40.
According to Amazon, drones will fly to consumers' backyards, drop off the ordered items, and then fly away. About a month ago, Amazon announced that it anticipates a new set of drones to come for delivering packages beginning in 2024. Customers will be on standby when it comes to waiting for drone deliveries in their locations.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), in 2020, offered Amazon Part 135 approval so that it could send items by way of drone. Currently, whomever lives in Lockeford, California or College Station, Texas are able to sign up and place orders with Amazon for drone deliveries.
The FAA said, "Operations from the College Station PADDC would occur during daylight hours up to five days per week. The operating area is divided into four sectors, with each sector having a maximum of approximately 50 delivery flights per operating day. Only one aircraft in each sector can be airborne at any time."
Just like with any other type of Amazon order, consumers will be able to receive tracking data as well as approximate delivery times that the drones will come to drop off the packages.
Although the drones are quite convenient, safety precautions still need to be taken, especially in the case of potential crashes. One instance in Pendleton, Oregon revealed that a drone fell 160 feet from the air and ignited a brush fire that spanned 25 acres, according to Bloomberg.
