FAA will allow drones to fly at night. Amazon, UPS and others could use drones for deliveries

[mahatmakanejeeves]

Source: Associated Press and Scripps National, via WTVR

FAA will allow drones to fly at night. Amazon, UPS and others could use drones for deliveries

By: The Associated Press & Scripps National Posted at 9:05 PM, Dec 28, 2020 and last updated 9:23 AM, Dec 29, 2020

WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal officials are outlining new rules that will let operators fly small drones over people and at night. Most drones will need to be equipped with remote identification that can be tracked by law enforcement officials.

The final rules announced Monday by the Federal Aviation Administration could boost the commercial use of drones, which has been slowed by regulatory hurdles. UPS, Amazon.com, and Google parent Alphabet are among many companies exploring the potential for making deliveries to consumers with drones.

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Read more: https://www.wtvr.com/news/national/faa-will-allow-drones-to-fly-at-night-amazon-ups-and-others-could-use-drones-for-deliveries

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Hat tip, a commenter at the story about White's Ferry in the Washington Post

[moreland01]

1. Oh, great.

Now I have to worry about roof pirates?! 😂😂

[Quemado]

2. Or even drone flamethrowers

&feature=share

[Miguelito Loveless]

3. Aside from the usual problems loons

who respond to a late night "drone assault" with a shotgun (or worse), I am imagining dogs (and cats) not taking kindly to flying intruders invading their territory, to the detriment of the drone and the animal.

[LisaM]

7. And other nocturnal animals

It's like the sonar that is causing huge problems with whales.

This is simply not okay.

[sanatanadharma]

4. Night time dreams interupted by drones

I am not kindly disposed to having my aural space and night time dreams interrupted by drones.

[FakeNoose]

5. I really, really don't want this

I'm a regular customer of Amazon but I'll never permit my stuff to be delivered via drone. It's completely unnecessary and it poses a lot of dangers. Just pay your drivers Amazon, there's no need to replace them with drones!

[Rebl2]

8. I don't

want anything I order delivered by drone either. How will it be dropped on my porch without hitting my house or will they just drop it in my yard or driveway. They do that it’s going to be stolen I’m sure.

[cstanleytech]

6. I am waiting until someone hacks the drones to turn them

into weapons.

[2naSalit]

10. +1

[Richard D]

9. I'm certain . . .

. . . everyone is utterly thrilled and excited at the possibility of drones buzzing over them when they are resting or sleeping.
Not that I would, but this would tempt me to get a shotgun.

[2naSalit]

11. Fortunately they are unlikely to be used in my area...

Too windy most of the time and GPS still doesn't work well around here. Best to use the USPS or whichever services are already available.

If I ever do see one flying around my location, I'll go get the shotgun and take care of it.

[Hugin]

12. I've yet to figure out this fascination with drone package delivery.

Is it because it's just so cool or futuristic?

Some of the brightest spots of this pandemic isolation have been interacting with the cast of characters who deliver my orders. Never a disappointment.

My favorite being when UPS and FEDEX trucks narrowly averted a fender bender making deliveries to the house across the street.

[FakeNoose]

14. They want to save labor costs, and not have to pay their drivers

This is extremely short-sighted in my opinion. It's no savings at all, when they find out the liability insurance they'll have to pay. People will be injured or killed by these drones, just wait and see.

Why do Amazon deliveries need to be made at night anyway? If it's so important to deliver at night, they should pay their drivers to do that. Sheesh!

[RobinA]

13. I'm Expecting This

to turn out about the same as those jet packs we were promised in the '60's. Not holding my breath.

[C Moon]

15. Now when walking at night, you'll need to look out for

Traffic, and muggers, and dogs and drones.
Oh my.

I imagine criminals will be knocking them out of the sky to steal the deliveries. Then Amazon will be out the delivery and a drone.

[mr_lebowski]

16. I could see this being useful for delivering to businesses, in particular onto campuses

Where there are security people.

Drone delivers to the security office at the Apple facility, that kind of thing. Could make sense for this scenario.

Environments where the situation on the ground is largely controlled.

Doing this in residential neighborhoods, OTOH, sounds pretty freaking insane.

[Bengus81]

17. Sure...relax all the FAA rules for CORPORATE America.............

But when Joe blow bought a drone years ago there were quickly regulations galore that weren't going to be changed.

So fucking typical..................

[NJCher]

18. aww, c'mon people

My brother uses his drone for all kinds of practical things, like flying a cup of flour over to his elderly neighbor down the block after a snowstorm and when the roads weren't plowed.

He uses it to check the roofs on his properties to see if they need work.

He uses it to put cameras up to check speeders going down the private road who are endangering children. The cops won't do it because it's a private road.

Really, drones are quite practical.