Amazon granted permission for drone tests in US
America’s Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has given the go-ahead for Amazon to begin testing an updated version of its ‘Prime Air’ drone service in the US.
Last month the retailer was granted permission to run trails on another prototype of the drone.
The Telegraph reports that Amazon will now be able to run multi-rotor drones weighing less than 25kg (including payload) at speeds of up to 100mph. However, the drones cannot fly above 400ft and be “operated within visual line of sight at all times of the pilot in command".
It comes after The Telegraph reported that Amazon has approached the UK government to run trials because the American regulations were too restrictive.
British transport minister Robert Goodwill revealed: “Amazon came to see me to ask about starting drone trials in the UK because regulations in the US were too restrictive. So much for the land of the free.”
Facebook has tested a solar-powered internet drones in British airspace, with chief executive Mark Zuckerberg revealing early trials have been have successful.
The drones were able to circle an area from an altitude of 60,000 to 90,000 feet.