Asks That It Be Allowed To Operate Without An Airworthiness Certificate

Amazon.com has petitioned the FAA for a waiver from several current rules governing Unmanned Aerial Vehicles to allow the company to begin delivery services with its MK27 drone.

CNN reports that the waivers requested by Amazon would, among other things, allow the aircraft to operate without a certificate of airworthiness and beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS). They further request that the aircraft be exempted from rules governing altitude, VFR fuel requirements and maintenance documentation.

According to the petition filed by Amazon with the FAA, the services would initially be conducted in low population areas when no icing conditions are forecast and winds are less than 24 knots. Flight plans would avoid "all known overflight areas such as sensitive government installations, hospitals, (and) open air assemblies."

Delivery trips would be less than 7.5 nautical miles each way, and would carry packages weighing less than 5 pounds.

The FAA posted information about the waiver request on the Federal Register, including supporting documentation from Amazon. The proposal is open for public comment through August 28.

FMI: Source report
Federal Register
Amazon Petition