E-commerce giant gets permission to test drones in UK

folarin okunola

August 5, 2016 4:41 PM

The British Civil Aviation Authority has given Amazon the go ahead to experiment with drone flights that extend beyond a pilot's line of sight in both rural and suburban settings.

Drone delivered icecream

American e-commerce giant Amazon has announced that it has formed a partnership with the UK aviation regulators that will allow it test and develop new drone delivery systems.

The British Civil Aviation Authority has given Amazon the go ahead to experiment with drone flights that extend beyond a pilot's line of sight in both rural and suburban settings - crucial permissions that the e-commerce giant has been unable to secure in the US.

Apart from allowing drones to fly beyond a pilot's vision, the UK regulator has also given Amazon permission to test sensors that will allow drones to avoid obstacles. The company is also allowed to conduct trial flights where a single person operates multiple drones.

Amazon first publicly revealed its "Prime Air" delivery service in December 2013, but the project had been having issues with regulatory hurdles in the US and elsewhere.

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The company has been able to conduct some test flights - but those have been without the special permissions granted by the UK.

"The UK is charting a path forward for drone technology that will benefit consumers, industry and society," said Paul Misener, an Amazon executive, in a statement.

Amazon's Prime Air program uses drones that are highly automated. They are able to fly at altitudes as high as 400 feet, but aircraft flight paths and busy urban areas will remain off limits.

The company aims to deliver parcels of up to five pounds to customers in the UK within 30 minutes of order.

folarin okunola