Overview
- Amazon’s Prime Air program, which began flights Thursday, completed its first UK drone delivery in Darlington to a customer’s garden.
- Eligible orders are limited to shoebox-sized items under 2.2 kg within a 7.5-mile radius of the fulfilment centre, and homes must have a garden for drop-off.
- Amazon’s MK30 drones use onboard sensors to avoid obstacles such as trampolines and washing lines, then use GPS to release the package from about 12 feet.
- The Civil Aviation Authority approved a trial running through year-end and granted temporary protected airspace for autonomous flights until mid-June, alongside temporary local planning permission.
- Amazon targets up to 10 flights per hour and cites a 36-minute average in five US states as it measures safety, demand, and the case for a broader UK rollout.