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Amazon Blasts FAA On Drone Approvals, Regulations
itwbennett writes Late last week, Amazon was issued permission by the FAA to fly an experimental drone as part of its tests for a planned automatic delivery service but it came too late, Paul Misener, vice president of global public policy at Amazon, told lawmakers on Tuesday. 'The UAS [unmanned aircraft system] approved last week by the FAA has already become obsolete,' he said. As a result, Amazon has filed for permission to fly a more advanced drone—one that is already being flown in several countries including the U.K., said Misener, who was speaking at a hearing of the Senate Committee on commerce, science and transportation.
Stupidity knows no bounds.
We're a corporation, damn it. We should be allowed to do whatever we want, whenever we want it. Your petty concerns about the public airspace are needlessly impeding our relentless drive for profit profit profit. Maybe some generous campaign contributions will help you see things our way.
I think as we go forward its already clear that drone's will present many problems going forward as the rapid expansion shows how unprepared the FAA is to addressing how to manage such aircraft. To make such a requirement for Amazon to test drones only as line of sight operation pretty much defeats any practical use of the drones by Amazon. Or for that matter any other kind of service similar to what Amazon wants to use drones for. If the FAA continues on this path of line of sight control I think it drastically limits the uses for drones. On a personal note, I believe Amazon is over estimating the usefulness of drones anyway. I think their practical uses as delivery devices is limited and has too many limitations. Such as weather, obstacles, access to delivery address and capacity to carry items.
I think this simply means Amazon like probably other businesses will over estimate a drones usefulness going forward. My other question is, exactly who will be piloting these drones? and how much money will Amazon pay to have hundreds if not thousands of people flying these drones? Will this be cheaper then paying a third party for delivery services?
....from flying over my house, that is all I want.
Time is what keeps everything from happening all at once.
There defiantly needs to be a fix to allow for these drones to fly at less than 400 fee from ground level without the excessive need for permitting and insurance if the size and weight are below a servant thresholds
I see a future of pirate drones scouring the skies in the search for booty... Arrr.
If there is, I'll ignore it!
Are we talking a slightly portly butler, or a skinny scullery-maid?
Confucius say, "Find worm in apple - bad. Find half a worm - worse."
I never get tired of repeating this. Someday people will learn that all forms of regulation are bad and we'll be on our way to a better world!!!
Government only exists to fuck us all and collect taxes to make its members and business partners richer.
We don't need government help to prosper.
I went to a Montessori school and I have a shaved head. It's not fair. Waaaaaaaagh!
So what does the more advanced drone look like?
... SCOTUS says Amazon is a people.
If Amazon gets concessions, the We The People will get them, too, or file discrimination suits.
It little behooves the best of us to comment on the rest of us.
https://youtu.be/xNsXQ8aNMvU?t=14s
Instead of blindly approving every proposal put forth by profit-hungry companies, I'd much prefer the FAA takes its time to assure the safety of the drones.
Instead of blindly approving every proposal put forth by profit-hungry companies, I'd much prefer the FAA takes its time to assure the safety of the drones.
I agree! The done's safety is paramount. Those things are not cheap! Your education, on the other hand...
I'd rather the FAA take a proactive, and active, role in creating rules which allow operations and enforce existing damage and nuisance laws. Letting the FAA "take it's time" is like telling ID that there's no rush on getting Duke Nukem Forever out as long as they do it right.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
And if they make an error, they can just amend the rules, just like I did in that topic line.
Is it just my observation, or are there way too many stupid people in the world?
Drones are tricky.
The FAA has no choice BUT to take it slow because there are a lot of stakeholders to consider - including regular airspace users, air traffic control, etc.
I mean, there's a hobby advisory circular that's just that, advisory. People flying drones under those terms are still deemed to be flying aircraft, and there has been a case where a drone pilot flying their drone in an unsafe manner has been charged under the FARs (it was initially appealed but the NTSB upheld that advisory circulars were not law).
At best, the FAA can apply what they feel is appropriate, i.e., advisory circular rules. But if your drone exceeds it, then it has to be part of the big boys including see and avoid, communications, transponders, etc., if it comes close to controlled airspace.
And then there's the whole controlled part of it - if it's in controlled airspace, then it needs to obey ATC. We've already had issues where drones piloted by people who really do know better still not properly doing their part. Enough so that the FAA had to basically declare areas of airspace as "drones only" because testers couldn't assure that their drones would participate properly.
then there's the whole taxing thing - if drones use ATC, they need to pay for it. Right now aircraft pay for it through fuel taxes (thoughts of user-based taxing keeps coming up as the airlines keep proposing it, though it gets shot down because GA objects - they already pay the taxes for it).
You want agile drone development, you need to go into a place where airspace is controlled and there aren't so many stakeholders. China is one, for their military controls all airspace. GA is practically non-existent (the military has started allowing local GA flights though). Now there the only stakeholder is the military.
Europe works too since GA is suppressed through high taxes leading to mostly only airlines having to be consulted.
Hey Bezos,
I don't know if you realize this but this SOP for the FAA. You should be told to shut-up and get inline like anyone else involved in aviation. Also, Drone deliver is stupid. You can't possible hope to avoid all the powerlines, etc. I have seen the paper work needed to approve flying stunt jets. It was huge and this wasn't even close to the first place to offer training in those exact stunt jets.
If you think that FAA shouldn't take their time why don't you get aboard my home built experimental helicopter??? Yes, the FAA hasn't approved it for flying passengers, but will when I get past the 20 hour mark. But don't worry I've already completed 5 of those hours.
https://youtu.be/i5tWT6I1GvY?t...
Lets say the FAA makes an error (IE no means for coordination between UAV and Manned aircraft). The consequences of the drone taking out the EMT helicopter are quite big. Maybe the EMT helicopter only kills everyone on board, and not all the rescuers on the ground, then I guess it isn't so bad.
No, let them go through the process and get it right. Your local EMT will thank you someday.
They exploit vulnerable people as under-paid and over-worked serfs and they pay little to no tax. Let them rot.