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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."

5 of 199 comments (clear)

  1. RTFS by dywolf · · Score: 2, Informative

    RTFS

    --
    The guy who said the election was rigged won the presidency with the second-most votes.
    1. Re:RTFS by Dins · · Score: 3, Informative

      Executive summary: No.

  2. Can we clarify this already? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Informative

    If the aircraft operator requires physical visible sight of aircraft to maintain aerial function, or does not have a video or operational data streamed back to their position to maintain flight, they are operating a model aircraft. If it is anything other than this, it is a drone.

    Why does the media have a hard on for calling anything that flies via remote control, a drone?

  3. Re:The FAA lacks jurisdiction by maccodemonkey · · Score: 3, Informative

    The FAA elected NOT to appeal this.

    Factually incorrect:
    http://www.mondaq.com/unitedst...

    And:
    "The appeal stays the ruling. This leaves the enforceability of the commercial-drone ban -- at least for the moment -- up in the air."

  4. What the hell is wrong with the FAA? by Jane+Q.+Public · · Score: 4, Informative

    Just a couple of months ago, in March, a Federal National Transportation Safety Board Administrative Judge ruled that the FAA does not have legal authority to regulate small low-altitude commercial drones.

    FAA seems to be trying to act like Obama, going ahead with policy it already knows to be illegal.