Amazon is appalled by a proposal from the US aviation authority FAA to tighten the rules for small drones. According to Amazon, the rules would make its Prime Air service, where drones deliver packages, impossible.
The FAA proposal will not allow commercial drone users to fly drones without a direct view of the unmanned aerial vehicle. Also, the drones lighter than 25 kg may not fly higher than 500 feet, approximately 152 meters, and it is not allowed to drop cargo.
In addition, drone operators must comply with legal requirements. The ‘pilot’ must be at least 17 years old and have a certificate to fly unmanned aerial vehicles. In addition, they must have their knowledge tested every two years through an exam and the drones must be made available for inspection immediately upon request from the FAA.
Amazon is appalled at the FAA’s proposals. According to the internet company, the strict rules would make it virtually impossible for companies to use drones on a large scale. Amazon mentions its Prime Air service, an experimental delivery service in which drones are used to deliver packages. Amazon is currently testing such drones near Cambridge, UK.
According to Amazon, the strict FAA rules could also mean more companies will move new drone technology development outside the US, while modern security systems would make much of the proposed rules obsolete. For example, new techniques would be available to prevent accidents with drones, such as collision avoidance software and better cameras.
Amazon is not the only party to criticize the FAA’s proposals. For example, civil rights organizations argue that the regulations do not provide sufficient guarantees for privacy, which means that government departments can use drones to collect data from American citizens.