Amazon's delivery drones: An idea that may not fly – Firstpost

Jeff Bezos’ idea to let self-guided drones deliver packages may be too futuristic for Washington to handle…. “We’d be surprised if the FAA ever let this fly in the States - but we will surely stay tuned to see where this all goes.” Matt Waite, a journalism professor at the University of Nebraska and head of the university’s Drone Journalism Lab, says a bigger problem for Amazon is that the rules are not expected to allow autonomous drones, so a remote pilot would have to be in command of the aircraft at all times. Indeed, the FAA said Monday that it is moving forward with “regulations and standards for the safe integration of remote piloted to meet increased demand.” The agency reiterated that “autonomous operation is not currently allowed in the United States.” Given the slow pace at which the FAA typically approves regulations, Waite calls Bezos’ prediction of four or five years for approval unrealistic. Amazon spokeswoman Mary Osako says the company has been in contact with the FAA “as they are actively working on necessary regulation.” One of the biggest promises for civilian drone use is in agriculture because of the industry’s largely unpopulated, wide open spaces. “Commercial use of drones is an interesting technology, and we’re certainly going to continue to evaluate it,” Gershenhorn says.