Amazon Asks FAA For Permission to Test Drone Delivery System

Amazon Inc. has given an official request to the Federal Aviation Administration to start their drone program, which will be an important step if the online giant is to fulfill their Amazon Prime Air drone dreams.

Amazon Prime Air was announced last December as being a program in which consumers can opt to receive shipped goods via drones. Amazon estimates that some users could receive their orders in less than 30 minutes.

In Amazon's petition to the FAA, it was reported that Amazon is now on its 8th and 9th prototype drone, which will have the capability to carry a 5-pound package while traveling upwards of 50 mph. With these capabilities, Amazon could cover 86 percent of their current shipping business.

Paul Misener, Amazon's Vice President of Global Public Policy, says in the request that Amazon Prime Air "is one invention we are incredibly passionate about. We believe customers will love it, and we are committed to making Prime Air available to customers world-wide as soon as we are permitted to do so."

The FAA currently bans all commercial use of drones or unmanned flying objects. Amazon filed the petition so they could become the exception to the rule, and begin testing drones outside of their Seattle headquarters. 

Amazon's petition went onto say, "We have been limited to conducting R&D flights indoors or in other countries. Of course, Amazon would prefer to keep the focus, jobs, and investment of this important research and development initiative in the United States by conducting private research and development operations outdoors near Seattle."

With the added insensitive of keeping Amazon's business in America, the FAA will likely buckle to Amazon's demands.

If not, as the petition states, Amazon will move onto another country that does not carry such strict drone laws.

Amazon contends that they should be treated just like all private drone users and hobbyists who are allowed to fly their drones at any public park or area.

American consumers are quickly becoming aware of the technological advancements that Internet companies are capable of. To imagine drones delivering packages to your front door is something that would seem out of a science fiction movie.

Misener promises that, "one day, seeing Amazon Prime Air will be as normal as seeing mail trucks on the road today."