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Amazon warns Congress: US risks being left behind in delivery drone business Amazon warns Congress: US risks being left behind in delivery drone business
(35 minutes later)
The US economy could lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars of investment if federal regulators continue to stymie plans for delivery drones, Amazon has warned lawmakers.The US economy could lose out on hundreds of millions of dollars of investment if federal regulators continue to stymie plans for delivery drones, Amazon has warned lawmakers.
Related: Amazon to begin testing same-day delivery drones in CambridgeRelated: Amazon to begin testing same-day delivery drones in Cambridge
The already fierce debate over delivery drones heated up on Tuesday when Amazon – which has threatened to withdraw drone development from the US because of strict regulations – attacked the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for putting America’s role at the heart of the state of the art technology at risk by delaying the approval of testing licences.The already fierce debate over delivery drones heated up on Tuesday when Amazon – which has threatened to withdraw drone development from the US because of strict regulations – attacked the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA) for putting America’s role at the heart of the state of the art technology at risk by delaying the approval of testing licences.
Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice-president for global public policy, told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the FAA took more than six months to respond to its request to test-fly its drones – so long that by the time the licence was granted the drone was already obsolete.Paul Misener, Amazon’s vice-president for global public policy, told a Senate committee on Tuesday that the FAA took more than six months to respond to its request to test-fly its drones – so long that by the time the licence was granted the drone was already obsolete.
“We don’t test it any more. We’ve moved on to more advanced designs that we already are testing abroad,” Misener said. “Nowhere outside of the United States have we been required to wait more than one or two months to begin testing.”“We don’t test it any more. We’ve moved on to more advanced designs that we already are testing abroad,” Misener said. “Nowhere outside of the United States have we been required to wait more than one or two months to begin testing.”
He said the company had had to wait more than six months for FAA approval for outdoor testing. “This low level of government attention and slow pace are inadequate, especially compared to the regulatory efforts in other countries,” he said. “The FAA already has adequate statutory authority. What the FAA needs is impetus.”He said the company had had to wait more than six months for FAA approval for outdoor testing. “This low level of government attention and slow pace are inadequate, especially compared to the regulatory efforts in other countries,” he said. “The FAA already has adequate statutory authority. What the FAA needs is impetus.”
Misener said that the US will continue to fall further behind other countries in the new and potentially lucrative industry unless the FAA picks up the pace of granting regulatory approval. He said other countries had taken much more “reasonable” approaches and recognised the potential economic benefits of commercial drone operations. Amazon began testing its drones, for a potential delivery service called Prime Air, in Cambridge, the UK, last November. Misener said that the US will continue to fall further behind other countries in the new and potentially lucrative industry unless the FAA picks up the pace of granting regulatory approval. He said other countries had taken much more “reasonable” approaches and recognised the potential economic benefits of commercial drone operations. Amazon began testing its drones, for a potential delivery service called Prime Air, in Cambridge, UK, last November.
Industry experts have said drones could generate nearly $14bn of economic activity in the US in the first three years of integration and $82bn over a decade.Industry experts have said drones could generate nearly $14bn of economic activity in the US in the first three years of integration and $82bn over a decade.
The FAA said safety was its primary concern. Margaret Gilligan, the FAA’s associate administrator for aviation safety, said an advisory panel is developing standards for detect-and-avoid technology and radio controls, which are expected in 2016. “As proposed, the United States would have one of the most flexible [drone] regulatory frameworks in the world,” she said.The FAA said safety was its primary concern. Margaret Gilligan, the FAA’s associate administrator for aviation safety, said an advisory panel is developing standards for detect-and-avoid technology and radio controls, which are expected in 2016. “As proposed, the United States would have one of the most flexible [drone] regulatory frameworks in the world,” she said.
The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents 50,000 commercial pilots, said: “It is vitally important that the pressure to capitalise on the technology [does] not lead to an incomplete safety analysis of the aircraft and operations.” It said drones must be proved to identify and manoeuvre to avoid other aircraft.The Air Line Pilots Association, which represents 50,000 commercial pilots, said: “It is vitally important that the pressure to capitalise on the technology [does] not lead to an incomplete safety analysis of the aircraft and operations.” It said drones must be proved to identify and manoeuvre to avoid other aircraft.
In draft rules released in February the FAA said pilots must remain within sight of drones. Amazon has complained that being forced to keep pilots so close to drones would prevent it from operating its planned droned delivery service in the US and could force it to develop the technology overseas instead.In draft rules released in February the FAA said pilots must remain within sight of drones. Amazon has complained that being forced to keep pilots so close to drones would prevent it from operating its planned droned delivery service in the US and could force it to develop the technology overseas instead.
Misener said Amazon’s Prime Air service aims to deliver packages within 30 minutes by flying drones below 500ft. He said the use of drones would increase overall safety as it would mean fewer consumers driving to the shops and a reduction in delivery trucks on the road.Misener said Amazon’s Prime Air service aims to deliver packages within 30 minutes by flying drones below 500ft. He said the use of drones would increase overall safety as it would mean fewer consumers driving to the shops and a reduction in delivery trucks on the road.
Amazon submitted a request to the FAA to test a new model drone on Friday.Amazon submitted a request to the FAA to test a new model drone on Friday.