Featured Image: A drone during an air delivery as part of testing with FAA Credit: Wing
Americans are about to have first drone delivery operations at their service as Wing company – which develops technology to carry out transportation of freight via drones – has complied with federal requirements to transport goods from local companies to homes.
A subsidiary of Alphabet, the parent company of Google, Wing announced Wednesday that its has become “the first drone delivery company to receive Air Carrier Certification from the United States Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).”
The Air Carrier Certification allows the company to launch a commercial service delivering goods from local businesses to homes.
“This is an important step for the FAA and the drone industry in the United States; the result of years of work to safely integrate drones into the national airspace,” a blog post by the company said.
The company will use all-electric drones, which have completed several thousand test flights, and have excited those that have watched sci-fi movies showing drones performing an array of functions.
A Virginia family receives their air delivery as part of Wing’s validation testing with the FAA. Image Credit: Wing
The delivery drone is still a nascent industry with the promise of a stiff competition in the future. The U.S., though, will not be the first country to have Wing delivery drone service for its people. Wing is already operative in Australian with more than 3,000 deliveries so far.
So, what exactly does this future-become-present technology and air service bring to the people?
Wing says it will help with a range of supplies, save time and help with delivery of some essential items like medicine and food.
“For communities across the country, this presents new opportunities. Goods like medicine or food can now be delivered faster by drone, giving families, shift workers, and other busy consumers more time to do the things that matter.
“Air delivery also provides greater autonomy to those who need assistance with mobility. Also, our all-electric drones will reduce traffic on our roads and pollution and carbon emissions in our skies.”
The company says it is grateful for the vision of the Administration, the Department of Transportation, and the FAA for creating the Unmanned Aircraft System Integration Pilot Program (UAS IPP) to advance the drone industry in the US.
“This is an important step forward for the safe testing and integration of drones into our economy. Safety continues to be our Number One priority as this technology continues to develop and realize its full potential,” said U.S. Secretary of Transportation, Elaine L. Chao, as quoted in the blog.
