(Bloomberg) — Amazon.com Inc.'s effort to expand its research into the viability of delivery drones got a boost from U.S. regulators who granted the company permission to conduct test flights.
Amazon had written to the Federal Aviation Administration in December threatening to divert its research program to other countries if the agency didn't act quickly to approve outdoor test flights of the unmanned aircraft. The FAA on Thursday said Amazon can fly its drones only during the day, within 400 feet of the ground and within sight of an operator who has a traditional pilot's license.
It's not clear when or if the FAA will create blanket rules for allowing the kind of autonomous droneflights envisioned by Amazon Chief Executive Officer Jeff Bezos. The Seattle-based company has said it wants to be able to program the unmanned aircraft to make the flight, while dodging obstacles, on its own.
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