TUESDAY: According to an Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) executive, while addressing a Senate panel, there has been such a delay on behalf of The Federal Aviation Administration in approving drone permits that the aircraft become obsolete while waiting.
The vice president of global public policy at Amazon, Paul Misener, told the aviation subcommittee that the company was grateful to the FAA for approving an experimental permit Thursday to test potential package deliveries. However, the company applied again Friday for a new permit for an updated aircraft, as the drone had become obsolete during the months-long wait.
“We are hopeful that this permission will be granted quickly”
Also, the FAA has required one pilot per drone and requires pilots to keep aircraft within sight, in drafting rules released in February for small commercial drones weighing up to 55 pounds. The FAA is in a position to collect public comment on the proposal for small drones, and final approval is expected in 18 to 24 months.
According to Misener:
“The FAA proposal for small drones doesn’t go far enough. Amazon’s proposed delivery service, Prime Air,will have sophisticated technology to avoid other aircraft, he said. But the aircraft will have to fly highly automated routes 10 miles or more beyond the sight of remote pilots. This low level of government attention and slow pace are inadequate, especially compared to the regulatory efforts in other countries.”
On the other hand, FAA’s associate administrator for aviation safety, Margaret Gilligan, said an advisory panel is developing standards for detect-and-avoid technology and radio controls, which are expected in 2016.
“As proposed, the United States would have one of the most flexible (drone) regulatory frameworks in the world.”
The Federal Aviation Administration announced to be streamlining the approval process by routinely granting applications for drones flying lower than 200 feet high during the day, within sight of the remote pilot and at least 2 miles from an airport:
“The agency expects the new policy will allow companies and individuals who want to use (drones) within these limitations to start flying much more quickly than before.”
So far, Amazon is testing drones outdoors in the United Kingdom and other countries where the rules allow.
