FAA expands drone delivery horizons: UPS & others gain approval for extended operations
FAA's approval for beyond-line-of-sight drone deliveries is reshaping the logistic centre. UPS and Walmart's partnership with Wing is at the forefront of this delivery revolution.
Highlights
- UPS subsidiary gets the green light to conduct drone deliveries beyond the line of sight, streamlining the process
- Retail giant, Walmart, joins forces with Alphabet's Wing to enhance deliveries, reaching more households in the Dallas-Fort Worth area through drones
In a significant development, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has granted permission for UPS and other drone delivery companies to expand their operations, allowing drones to fly longer distances beyond the line of sight of ground operators.
This exciting move opens up new possibilities for drone delivery services like UPS Flight Forward, Wing (Alphabet's subsidiary), FedEx, and Zip, enabling them to reach a wider customer base and service areas that were previously out of reach.
UPS takes flight beyond ‘Line of Sight’
UPS Flight Forward, a subsidiary of UPS specialising in drone delivery, has received FAA approval to conduct small package deliveries beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) without the need for ground spotters to monitor the drone's path and airspace for other aircraft.
They will be employing SwissDrones SVO 50 V2 drones for these extended operations. This marks a significant milestone in the evolution of drone delivery services.
Expanding horizons for drone delivery
The FAA's decision is not limited to UPS alone; it also grants authorisations to other companies for conducting commercial drone flights beyond the line of sight. Among them is uAvionix Corp., further expanding the horizon for drone technology.
Recently, Phoenix Air Unmanned, an infrastructure inspection company, also received approval for such operations, signalling the growing acceptance of drone technology for various applications.
Retail giants embrace drone deliveries
Walmart has joined the drone delivery revolution by partnering with Wing to make deliveries in the Dallas-Fort Worth metroplex. Already, Walmart has successfully executed over 10,000 deliveries across seven states through collaborations with DroneUp, Flytrex, and Zipline.
The said new partnership is set to extend its reach to an additional 60,000 households, enhancing the convenience of their delivery services.
Challenges amidst the progress
While many companies are making significant strides in drone delivery, challenges persist. Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery service, for example, faced hurdles with only 100 deliveries completed in California and Texas, where it operates.
Although the current delivery figures are undisclosed, they fall far short of Amazon's initial goal of achieving 10,000 drone deliveries to customers by the end of 2023.
In short, the FAA's decision to allow drones to operate beyond the line of sight is a transformative step in the world of delivery services. It not only empowers companies like UPS but also encourages innovation and expansion within the drone delivery sector. As more companies embrace this technology, the future of convenient and efficient package deliveries appears brighter than ever.
