Commercial drones clear major hurdle in Dallas
Add Axios as your preferred source to
see more of our stories on Google.
Illustration: Sarah Grillo/Axios
The Federal Aviation Administration will allow multiple operators to fly commercial drones in the same Dallas airspace without a person observing them, the agency announced this week.
Why it matters: The approval is a first for U.S. aviation and represents an expansion of the drone industry in recent years.
The big picture: Drone deliveries can be used for groceries, food and medicine.
- The FAA authorization will eventually make it easier for companies to offer drone deliveries.
Zoom in: Walmart is the most notable company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to try, and expand, drone deliveries. The company announced this year that it was planning to add 1.8 million North Texas households to its drone delivery range.
State of play: Zipline International and Wing Aviation — which operate in the Dallas area and deliver by drone for Walmart — had requested authorization from the FAA to operate in a shared airspace and deliver packages while keeping their drones safely apart.
- Typically, a drone has to be in the line of sight of its operator.
- But with uncrewed aircraft traffic management technology and rigorous federal oversight, Zipline and Wing will be able to manage the airspace themselves, the FAA says.
How it works: The drone flights don't go over 400 feet altitude, staying away from other types of aircraft.
- The uncrewed aircraft traffic management technology will allow operators in the same airspace to coordinate — and keep apart — their drones by sharing their planned routes with each other.
What's next: Drone flights using the new technology will start this month, the FAA says. The administration also plans to issue more authorizations in the Dallas area.