Already a subscriber? Make sure to log into your account before viewing this content. You can access your account by hitting the “login” button on the top right corner. Still unable to see the content after signing in? Make sure your card on file is up-to-date.

Amazon has announced plans to expand its drone delivery service after the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) authorized its Prime Air drones to operate beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS).

To secure FAA approval, Amazon conducted flight demonstrations showcasing their system’s efficacy in real-world conditions. “We flew in the presence of real planes, helicopters, and a hot air balloon to demonstrate how the drone safely navigated away from each of them,” the company stated. The demonstrations proved crucial in convincing the FAA that the drones could operate safely without the need for direct visual contact by the operator.

The FAA confirmed the removal of line-of-sight restrictions for Amazon’s operations. An FAA spokesperson said, “Safely integrating drones into the National Airspace System is a key priority for the FAA. The FAA is focused on developing standard rules to make BVLOS operations routine, scalable, and economically viable.”

The new FAA authorization allows Amazon to expand its delivery operations immediately in College Station, Texas, one of its initial test sites established in 2022. Additionally, this approval paves the way for the launch of drone deliveries in the West Valley of the Phoenix area in Arizona later this year. In a brief statement, Amazon emphasized its commitment to its original vision for Prime Air: “to deliver packages to customers in 30 minutes or less using highly autonomous drones.”

This development comes as Amazon aims to use drones to deliver 500 million packages annually by the end of the decade.