FAA approves Amazon drone to begin deliveries in Arizona

Amazon customers in Tolleson, Arizona can now receive deliveries of small items via drone following FAA approval.

The US regulator has cleared Amazon’s MK30 drone to operate in the city on the outskirts of Phoenix which has a population of just over 7,000. The approval includes the ability to fly beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) which enables delivery times of under one hour, according to Amazon.

“As Amazon embarks on the national expansion of its Amazon Drone Delivery Program, we’re proud to have their innovative presence in our community. By bringing this service to new communities, they’re not just delivering goods; they’re delivering opportunities and economic growth for all,” said Juan F. Rodriguez, mayor of Tolleson, earlier this year. “Amazon’s commitment to innovation exemplifies the entrepreneurial spirit that drives our city forward.”

Amazon has been delivering to customers via drone since 2022, including a service to deliver prescription medications in partnership with Amazon Pharmacy to customers in College Station, Texas. The MK30 has also begun deliveries in College Station.

Residents of Tolleson living near Amazon’s same-day delivery site who purchase an eligible item (there are over 50,000) weighing 5lbs (2.2kg) or less will be able have their product delivered by drone. The same-day site will be fully integrated into Amazon’s delivery network, according to the company. These smaller sites are a combination of fulfillment centre and delivery station, allowing Amazon to fulfill, sort and deliver products more efficiently.

“This kind of delivery is the future, and it’s exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area,” said Kate Gallego, mayor of Phoenix, earlier this year. “The shift toward zero-emission package delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further cement our city as a hotbed for the innovative technology of tomorrow.”

Amazon’s Prime Air engineering team spent nearly two years developing the MK30. The drone was designed to allow it to deliver packages to customers with smaller backyards and in more densely populated suburban areas. It flies twice as far as Amazon’s previous drones, is about 50% quieter to humans and is built to fly in rainy weather.