Much of the talk around the feasibility of Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery service is rightly centered around how the vehicles can be safely squeezed into US airspace, according to a post at GizMag. But Amazon officials have a plan, where drones would get exclusive access to that chunk of airspace between up to 400 feet. The first 200 feet would be dedicated to “low-speed localized traffic,” while 200 feet to 400 feet would be dedicated to “high-speed transit.” The airspace between 400 feet and 500 feet would be declared a no-fly zone to create a buffer between drones and general aviation. Check out the story here and then let us know what you think of the plan in our comment section.
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Well, it’s nice to know that the FAA is moving right along with UAV while it can’t left a finger when comes to Pilot’s Bill of Rights. Nice.
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I question how this 500 foot ceiling plan will work. How are the UAVs going to keep accurate vertical separation? What if it won’t work? Will they then ask for more air space?
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I will say this, the UAV industry will have hell to pay if they attempt to encroach into the National Airspace system just so they can deliver pizzas in twenty minutes.
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Money talks and the evidence is everywhere.
“I will say this, the UAV industry will have hell to pay if they attempt to encroach into the National Airspace system just so they can deliver pizzas in twenty minutes.”
Don’t bet on it. This will, eventually, all come down to politics. And, therefore, like most politics, it will become a matter of money and votes. We know that companies like Google, and Amazon, and Facebook, have the money. And if the voters out there perceive these UAV’s as providing a vital service, (including hot pizzas) well then, they’ll have the them as well. (Let’s be honest, most people don’t perceive you and me as providing any service to them, at all. Let alone a vital one.)
So know they have the money, and the votes, to persuade Washington to legislate in favor of the them and not us “rich boys with our expensive toys”, who create noise, and cause pollution, for what? So we can fly off some place for a $100 hamburger.
Sorry to bring everybody down, but when I see what happening with UAV’s I find little reason to be optimistic. It may seem like a fad, but it’s a long term one. And I believe drones will spell the end of sport/recreational aviation.
That’s ridiculous! For starters, fixed wing are only required to be 500′ from people and property, in rural areas, not 500′ AGL. Rotor wing aircraft are only required to maintain a place to autorotate in case of an engine failure. Drones are not going to work in US airspace. I can see how they could be very useful to the military and even police, but a TFR should be required for their operation.
Require no fly zone around ALL AIRPORTS
“Exclusive” access? I’m pretty sure I need to pass through “up to 400 feet” while departing and approaching to land. Can Amazon guarantee one of their drones won’t encroach on my flight path while I’m doing so?
Then again… I suppose if one does, and takes me out, there will surely be some kind of inquiry… afterwards. That should be good enough, I guess.
Then Amazon will sue your estate to recuperate the loss of their drone.