Amazon is working on launching a drone delivery service in the West Valley Phoenix Metro Area. And this week, new details have emerged as to what exactly this Arizona Amazon drone delivery service will entail.
On July 10, the Federal Aviation Administration released a draft environmental assessment for Amazon Prime Air’s proposed drone delivery operations in Tolleson, Arizona. With it comes critical details around how big this operation might actually be.
Under the proposal for Arizona Amazon drone deliveries, Amazon would launch commercial drone package deliveries out of a new Prime Air Drone Delivery Center (PADDC) in Tolleson, Arizona. That drone delivery center sits on the same property as another existing Amazon warehouse.
This first-of-its-kind PADDC would mark a departure from the way Amazon currently operates its other deliveries out of College Station, Texas. The PADDC is a hybrid fufillment center and delivery station. The benefit? Amazon employees can fulfill, sort and deliver products all from one site. In theory, that reduces delivery times.
Related read: The biggest difference between Amazon and Wing drones (and why one is arguably more successful)
Speaking of faster delivery times, Amazon plans to run its Arizona drone deliveries to both neighboring homes and commercial facilities. And homes aren’t far away. After all, the nearest residential neighborhood is just 1,300 feet west of Amazon’s delivery center. To be eligible for home deliveries, customers typically have to have some sort of yard, either in their own single-family residence or in certain apartment buildings.
Delivery won’t be 24/7, but it will be during most waking hours — even when it’s dark out. Amazon’s proposal accounts for drone operations between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m.
Amazon anticipates making up to 469 delivery flights per day. That means it could potentially execute more than 170,000 drone delivery flights to customers over the course of a year. Though, realistically expect fewer flights than that given factors such as weather (drones will only fly on clear days), customer demand and potential for other technical hiccups.
What drone does Amazon use for its deliveries?
The drone actually conducting the deliveries in Phoenix? That’s Amazon’s MK30 drone.
Here are some other key Amazon MK30 drone specs:
- Maximum takeoff weight: 83.2 pounds (though they only actually carry packages up to five pounds)
- Capable of flying in light rain (though only flies during clear weather)
- Vertical take-off to get off the ground, then transitions into horizontal, wing-borne flight
- Electric powered
- Includes sense and avoid tech
- Quieter than past Amazon drone models via custom-designed propellers (reduces perceived noise by almost half)
- Can fly further than past Amazon drone models (increases distance by almost double)
- First revealed to the public in fall 2023
Specific to these Arizona Amazon drone operations, the Mk30 would fly in a proposed operating range of 7.5 miles from the warehouse, which makes for a potential operating area of up to 174 square miles.
What’s next for Arizona Amazon drone deliveries?
The National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA), which was signed into law on January 1, 1970, requires that the FAA consider environmental factors in its decision whether to approve Arizona Amazon drone deliveries.
Given that, the FAA has opened a public comment period. With it, the FAA is soliciting public feedback. To share your feedback, submit your comments via email by Aug. 11, 2024 and include “Prime Air Tolleson Draft EA” in the subject line.
Besides getting FAA approvals, Amazon is also working with local officials in Tolleson. It plans to have its service running by the end of 2024.
Amazon drone deliveries in California and Texas
While Amazon awaits FAA approval for its Arizona Amazon drone delivery program, Amazon drone delivery already operates in a couple of locations in the United States. As of July 2024, Prime Air drone delivery is currently up and running in College Station, Texas. It’s also conducted somewhat extensive testing in Lockeford, California. For eligible College Station customers who also are purchasing drone delivery-eligible items (and yes, even certain prescriptions are eligible for Amazon drone delivery), the actual deliveries are free.
In those cities, delivery windows are much more restricted than the Arizona proposal. Amazon drone deliveries in Texas typically run during limited daylight hours only, pending weather. As of July 2024, deliveries only are available between 8:00 a.m. and 3:30 p.m. Night deliveries and operations during heavy winds are not yet available.
Expanding Texas operations
That said, Amazon has been on a quest to expand its existing operating hours. In a separate proposal submitted under the National Environmental Policy Act, Amazon seeks approval to expand its College Station, Texas drone deliveries. College Station is about 80 miles away from both Houston and Austin, and is home to Texas A&M University.
Amazon’s Texas expansion plans mean getting bigger both in terms of distance and operating times. That’s due in large part to the ability to add Amazon’s new MK 30 drone to its fleet. Currently, Amazon uses the MK27-2 drone in Texas.
Their proposal would expand the College Station operating area beyond the current 3.7-mile radius. If approved, Amazon’s operating area in Texas would grow from 43.7 square miles to 174 square miles.
Also in Texas, Amazon is seeking to expand its flight times from the current daylight-only hours to between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. (as proposed in Arizona). That would increase Amazon’s current maximum in College Station of about 200 operations per day to an estimated 470 drone flights per day. That would result in going from an estimated 52,000 flights per year in Texas to an estimated 171,329 flights per year.
Much like with Arizona, those expansion plans are contingent upon NEPA review. The public comment period for the Prime Air College Station draft environmental assessment closed on July 12.
Texas in general is a big spot for drone delivery test projects. For example, Wing, which is the drone-focused sibling company of Google, conducts drone deliveries primarily with Walmart in Frisco, Texas which is a city near Dallas.
Of course, expanded Texas operations — plus a new project in Arizona — is hardly all for Amazon, which is the world’s largest retailer outside of China. Though it didn’t specify where, Amazon says it intends to open further U.S. locations in 2025.
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The post New details emerge on planned Arizona Amazon drone delivery service appeared first on The Drone Girl.