Amazon is set to start testing the use of its drone delivery service, Prime Air, in the UK by the end of the year.
The ecommerce giant is now expected to deliver small trial parcels, which weigh less than five pounds, within an hour of an order being placed by the end of 2024.
Amazon has been selected, alongside five other organisations, by regulator the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) to trial beyond visual line of sight drone flights, which means operators will not be required to maintain physical sight of the drones.
It is understood that the drones will be able to fly out to around 12km from their base, which will be one of Amazon’s UK fulfilment centres, according to The Independent.
Amazon Prime Air vice-president and general manager David Carbon said: “It’s crucial for operators like us to have clear regulatory requirements in order to bring and scale new technologies, such as drone delivery, to customers in the UK.
“We appreciate the CAA’s effort to partner with us to help bring clarity to the regulations that support commercial drone delivery.”
CAA director of future of flight Sophie O’Sullivan said: “These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in integrating drones safely into UK airspace.
“By supporting projects ranging from consumer deliveries to critical infrastructure inspections, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations.
“Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and the incorporation of new technology into our skies.”
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