Amazon to pilot one-hour delivery in the U.K.
Amazon is testing the viability of Prime Air one-hour drone delivery in a European nation.
The e-tail giant is one of six organizations taking part in new trials conducted by the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority to test drone use in deliveries, inspections of infrastructure, emergency services, and flights to remote locations. Amazon previously tested drone delivery in the U.K. in 2016, but never moved beyond pilot stage in that project.
The regulatory body has chosen the trials to help integrate drones flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) of their operator into U.K. airspace. BVLOS flights will be carried out at distances beyond the flyer’s ability to see the drone.
The pilots will also gather safety data, such as how drones detect and avoid other aircraft and the electronic signals they can send to be able to be visible to other airspace users and air traffic control.
Additional government approvals will be needed before testing can begin. The new pilots will also help develop plans for how drones can be safely integrated with other airspace users, as part of the regulator’s wider Airspace Modernization Strategy.
Amazon has also said it will bring drone delivery to Italy by the end of 2024.
[READ MORE: Amazon gets federal approval to expand drone deliveries]
"These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in integrating drones safely into U.K. airspace," Sophie O’Sullivan, director of future of flight at the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, said in an official blog post. "By supporting projects ranging from consumer deliveries to critical infrastructure inspections, we are gathering essential data to shape future policies and regulations."
"The UKRI Future Flight challenge team are excited to be working in partnership with the U.K. Civil Aviation Authority, working together to accelerate the introduction of drone operations in the U.K.," Simon Masters, future flight challenge deputy director at U.K. Research and Innovation, said in the blog post. "These have the potential to transform how we deliver goods and provide services, particularly in less well-connected regions."
Chain Store Age has reached out to Amazon for comment.
Amazon stays active with U.S. drone activity
In its U.S. drone operation, Amazon recently received Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) additional permissions that allow it to operate drones for more Prime Air deliveries in a wider area using BVLOS operation.
The new authorization and new permissions allowed Amazon to expand its existing drone delivery area in College Station, Texas. Later this year, Amazon plans to begin integrating drone deliveries into its delivery network, meaning drones will deploy from facilities next to Amazon same-day delivery sites.
Amazon initially received an Air Carrier Certificate from the FAA in 2020 that allowed the company to operate as an airline and deliver small packages via drone.
