Amazon’s Drone Delivery Fleet Hits Milestone With FAA Clearance

  • Company plans its first commercial airborne drops in U.S.
  • Approval is crucial step for drones, though hurdles remain
Amazon’s new Prime Air dronePhotographer: Amazon
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Retail behemoth Amazon.com Inc. took a big leap toward delivering goods from the sky by becoming one of only a handful of companies certified by the U.S. government to operate as a drone airline.

The Federal Aviation Administration designated Amazon Prime Air an “air carrier,” the company said Monday. That allows Amazon to begin its first commercial deliveries in the U.S. under a trial program, using the high-tech devices it unveiled for that purpose last year.