Amazon has welcomed its newest delivery service option, air drones.
According to Ars Technica, the retail giant has begun dropping off customers’ packages through its Amazon Prime Air delivery service. The latest feature is currently only available for Lockeford, California, and College Station, Texas residents.
As noted on the company’s website, the feature aims to deliver packages to customer’s homes within an hour by a hexagonal six propeller MK27-2 drone.
Amazon says the drones will fly at a “safe height” to the designated drop off location and “safely” release the packages before returning back to its warehouse.
“Our aim is to safely introduce our drones to the skies. We are starting in these communities and will gradually expand deliveries to more customers over time,” Amazon Air spokesperson Natalie Banke said.
In 2020, the Federal Aviation Administration approved Amazon to deliver packages by drone. The FAA also submitted a Final Environmental Assessment, a Finding of No Significant Impact document, and a Record of Decision for Lockeford on November 14th and College Station on December 12th.
“Lockeford residents will play an important role in defining the future,” Amazon said earlier this year. “Their feedback about Prime Air, with drones delivering packages in their backyards, will help us create a service that will safely scale to meet the needs of customers everywhere.”
In addition to the approval, the FAA said the drones will only operate “during daylight hours up to five days a week.”
Last month, Amazon upgraded its drones to have “increased range, expanded temperature tolerance, and the capability to fly in light rain.”
The company also added that they’re working closely with engineers to eliminate the noise level from its drones to ensure customers have a pleasant delivery.
