Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

FAA Bans Delivering Packages With Drones

Posted by Soulskill on from the but-it-would-have-been-hilarious dept.

An anonymous reader sends this report from Ars Technica: The Federal Aviation Administration has said that online shopping powerhouse Amazon may not employ drones to deliver packages, at least not anytime soon. The revelation was buried in an FAA document (PDF) unveiled Monday seeking public comment on its policy on drones, or what the agency calls "model aircraft." The FAA has maintained since at least 2007 that the commercial operation of drones is illegal. ... In Monday's announcement, published in the Federal Register, the FAA named Amazon's December proposal as an example of what is barred under regulations that allow the use of drones for hobby and recreational purposes. The agency did not mention Amazon Prime Air by name, but it didn't have to. Under a graphic that says what is barred, the FAA mentioned the "Delivering of packages to people for a fee." A footnote added, "If an individual offers free shipping in association with a purchase or other offer, FAA would construe the shipping to be in furtherance of a business purpose, and thus, the operation would not fall within the statutory requirement of recreation or hobby purpose."

6 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. Amazon can quit sweating now... by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    quick... fire all those new "drone engineers".

  2. Oh well, Jeff by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Back to the catapult idea.

    1. Re:Oh well, Jeff by Lumpy · · Score: 4, Funny

      Ballistic satellite delivery system! EXCELLENT! I look forward to the craters in everyone's lawn.

      --
      Do not look at laser with remaining good eye.
  3. Amazon should know better by Lodlaiden · · Score: 5, Funny

    Drones are for delivering missiles.

    --
    Suborbital [spaceflight] is the special olympics of spaceflight. - Rei
  4. Groupon got it right by stox · · Score: 3, Funny

    Trebuchet's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

    --
    "To those who are overly cautious, everything is impossible. "
  5. Re:Prime = OK ?? by OhPlz · · Score: 5, Funny

    You'd have to argue that since corporations are people too, the corporation can make deliveries as a hobby. Somehow, I don't think that will fly.