Amazon Delivery Drones Take Flight in Arizona With FAA Approval

Household essentials, beauty products, office supplies, and more will be eligible for delivery in under one hour.

Wednesday, November 06, 2024 at 01:12 PM ET

Verified

Amazon Prime Air received FAA approval to fly its MK-30 drone beyond the visual line of sight (BVLOS) of pilots, allowing it to cover more ground. [Courtesy: Amazon Prime Air]

Key Takeaways:

Amazon Prime Air has expanded its drone delivery service to the Phoenix metro area, deploying a new, improved MK-30 drone.
The new MK-30 drone is FAA-approved for beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations in Arizona, is quieter, and boasts a longer range.
This expansion marks the first time Prime Air drones are deploying directly from Amazon's existing same-day delivery hubs, integrating drone delivery more closely with its logistics network.

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Drone delivery has taken off in the Valley of the Sun.

Prime Air, Amazon’s beleaguered drone business, on Tuesday said it launched delivery of more than 50,000 items—from household essentials like toothpaste to last-minute office supplies—in the West Valley region of the Phoenix metro area. Deliveries will be made using the company’s new MK-30 drone, which it says is smaller, lighter, and more durable than the model it flies in its other U.S. market, College Station, Texas.

Jack Daleo

Jack is a staff writer covering advanced air mobility, including everything from drones to unmanned aircraft systems to space travel—and a whole lot more. He spent close to two years reporting on drone delivery for FreightWaves, covering the biggest news and developments in the space and connecting with industry executives and experts. Jack is also a basketball aficionado, a frequent traveler and a lover of all things logistics.