Amazon to test delivery drones for real in the UK

Amazon has just announced its plans to start testing delivery drones for real in UK airspace by the end of this year. Prime Air here we come!

The Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) selected Amazon to participate in a trial of Beyond Visual Line Of Sight (BVLOS) drone flights. The trial will help contribute to the development of the long-awaited Prime Air.

What is Prime Air?

Amazon has been pushing trials of their Prime Air service in the US since 2013. Jeff Bezos planned to create a safe, scalable way to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less. Along came drones! The latest UK trial will deliver small packages within one hour of being ordered.

What’s the purpose of the trials?

Ultimately, these trials will contribute towards developing future policies and regulations allowing drones to be fully integrated with other air traffic. Drone flights are still a tricky business with air traffic control. Although you need a licence to fly them, people can still purchase them for private use. The trial means the CAA can gather vital safety information. This includes how the delivery drones detect and avoid other aircraft. The CAA will monitor electronic signals the drones send to air traffic control and other airspace users. Director of Future Flight at the CAA, Sophie O’Sullivan, says:

“Our goal is to make drone operations beyond visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality, contributing to the modernisation of UK airspace and the incorporation of new technology into our skies.”

It’s not been confirmed where the trial will take place, however, it will likely be in a lightly populated suburban area. The plan is to trial within 7 miles of their operating site. After years of drone development, Amazon is just finishing their latest creation. The MK30 can carry up to 4.8 pounds and operate in diverse weather conditions, including light rain.

So, the development of Prime Air continues. Watch this (air) space!