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Zipline Receives FAA Part 135 Carrier Certificate

California-based Zipline has become the fourth drone delivery company to receive an FAA Part 135 carrier certificate to fly in the U.S.

Airborne Zipline drone drops package with parachute
Zipline’s electric, autonomous, fixed-wing drones fly precise routes to customer locations, drop packages at low altitudes, and return to distribution centers. [Courtesy: Zipline]
Gemini Sparkle

Key Takeaways:

  • Zipline has received an FAA Part 135 carrier certificate, making it the fourth drone delivery operator to achieve this in the U.S.
  • This certification enables Zipline to launch the nation's longest-range and largest-area commercial drone delivery service.
  • Their autonomous "Zips" aircraft, designed for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) flight, will commence Part 135 operations from Kannapolis, North Carolina, serving a vast area for partners like Novant Health.
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California-based Zipline has become the fourth drone delivery operator to receive an FAA Part 135 carrier certificate to fly in the U.S.

In its announcement Tuesday, Zipline said the certificate puts it on track to launch the nation’s “longest range on-demand” commercial drone delivery service with “operations covering the largest area and greatest distance of any uncrewed commercial aircraft delivery system in the country.”

Thom Patterson

Thom is a former senior editor for FLYING. Previously, his freelance reporting appeared in aviation industry magazines. Thom also spent three decades as a TV and digital journalist at CNN’s bureaus in Washington and Atlanta, eventually specializing in aviation. He has reported from air shows in Oshkosh, Farnborough and Paris. Follow Thom on Twitter @thompatterson.

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