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You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/jul/25/amazon-to-test-drone-delivery-uk-government
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| Amazon to test drone delivery in partnership with UK government | Amazon to test drone delivery in partnership with UK government |
| (about 9 hours later) | |
| Amazon has announced that it will partner with the British government to run tests to explore the viability of delivery of small parcels by drone – the first time such tests have been run in the UK. | Amazon has announced that it will partner with the British government to run tests to explore the viability of delivery of small parcels by drone – the first time such tests have been run in the UK. |
| Related: Amazon and Google's drone delivery plans hit snag with new US regulations | Related: Amazon and Google's drone delivery plans hit snag with new US regulations |
| The company announced that a cross-government team supported by the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) gave permission to Amazon to explore three key areas: operations beyond line of sight, obstacle avoidance and flights where one person operates multiple autonomous drones. | |
| The experiment will look at drones carrying deliveries weighing five pounds or less – which make up 90% of Amazon’s sales, a company spokeswoman said. | The experiment will look at drones carrying deliveries weighing five pounds or less – which make up 90% of Amazon’s sales, a company spokeswoman said. |
| A representative for the CAA said that a priority during the tests would be making sure that drone delivery did not adversely affect other airspace users. | A representative for the CAA said that a priority during the tests would be making sure that drone delivery did not adversely affect other airspace users. |
| During the test the drones – as is standard among private drone operations – will be limited to an altitude of 400ft, and kept away from operating near airport flightpaths. | During the test the drones – as is standard among private drone operations – will be limited to an altitude of 400ft, and kept away from operating near airport flightpaths. |
| “What it does is strengthen our partnership with the UK for today and for the foreseeable future,” the Amazon spokeswoman said, adding that making sure the system can operate safely is the top priority of the tests. “We’re not going to launch until we can demonstrate safety, and that’s what this programme is going to do,” she continued. | |
| “We want to enable the innovation that arises from the development of drone technology by safely integrating drones into the overall aviation system,” Tim Johnson, the CAA policy director, said in a press release. “These tests by Amazon will help inform our policy and future approach.” | “We want to enable the innovation that arises from the development of drone technology by safely integrating drones into the overall aviation system,” Tim Johnson, the CAA policy director, said in a press release. “These tests by Amazon will help inform our policy and future approach.” |
| Amazon is also testing its drones in the US but faces significant restrictions. The Federal Aviation Administration will only allow commercial drones to fly where the drone and its payload weigh less than 55lb, it stays within unaided sight of the pilot and each drone has its own pilot. Commercial drones can also only fly during daylight and 30 minutes before sunrise and 30 minutes after sunset. The same rules do not apply to recreational drone flights. |