By Andy Pasztor
After lagging behind other countries for years, commercial
drones in the U.S. are expected to begin limited package deliveries
within months, according to federal regulators and industry
officials.
The momentum partly stems from stepped-up White House pressure,
prompting closer cooperation between the government and companies
such as Amazon.com Inc. seeking authorizations for such fledgling
businesses. The upshot, according to these officials, is newfound
confidence by both sides that domestic package-delivery services
finally appear on the verge of taking off.
Earlier promises of progress turned out to be premature. The
green light could be delayed again if proponents can't overcome
nagging security concerns on the part of local or national
law-enforcement agencies. Proposed projects also may end up stymied
if Federal Aviation Administration managers don't find creative
ways around legislative and regulatory restrictions such as those
mandating pilot training for manned aircraft.
But some proponents of delivery and other drone applications
"think they might be ready to operate this summer," Jay Merkle, a
senior FAA air-traffic control official, said during a break at an
unmanned-aircraft conference in Baltimore last week that
highlighted the agency's pro-business approach.
At least 10 FAA-approved pilot programs for various drone
initiatives -- some likely including package delivery -- are slated
to start by May. Separately, industry and government officials have
indicated that Amazon, widely considered one the most aggressive
and furthest advanced applicants, is pushing for safety approval of
detailed drone designs, as well as precise operating rules.
Amazon officials declined to provide details. But Gur Kimchi,
vice president of the company's package-delivery organization
called Prime Air, expressed confidence that necessary approvals
would be secured before the end of the year. Responding to
questions on the sidelines of the conference about probable
locations and timelines to initiate delivery flights, he repeatedly
said "ask me next year."
Earl Lawrence, who runs the FAA's drone-integration office, had
a similar upbeat message. Airborne deliveries may be "a lot closer
than many of the skeptics think," he told last week's gathering.
Some experimental efforts already are under way and "they're
getting ready for full-blown operations," he said in an interview.
"We're processing their applications," and "I would like to move as
quickly as I can."
At this point, public comments by both the FAA and prospective
delivery companies have focused exclusively on methods to track and
control drones to ensure they won't endanger property or people on
the ground. Largely due to competitive concerns, Amazon, Alphabet
Inc.'s Google unit and other would-be operators haven't divulged
exactly how customers would order a package or be notified of its
arrival.
So far, regulators in Australia, Singapore and Britain are among
those leading the way on drone deliveries. In the U.S., there have
been numerous studies, advisory panels and years of debate about
the topic, but relatively little movement to usher in real-world
services. Other governments have moved more quickly to permit
commercial drones in segregated areas, while the FAA is looking to
integrate them into the nation's airspace.
In recent months, however, there has been a marked shift in tone
from Washington. Lawmakers increasingly are prodding the FAA and
urging swift action. Senior officials at the Transportation
Department, which is the FAA's parent agency, "get calls from the
White House fairly regularly" demanding faster decisions, according
to Derek Kan, DOT's undersecretary for policy.
During last week's conference, FAA officials urged startups and
established industry players alike to submit a variety of
proposals, repeatedly using the catchphrase "the FAA is open for
business." As long as essential safety standards are met, Mr.
Lawrence and his colleagues promised to tailor exemptions and
waivers to modify basic rules written decades ago when drones
weren't in the picture.
The FAA's Mr. Merkle, who has helped implement automated traffic
management changes around airports for less-ambitious drone uses,
was even more blunt about the agency's stance. In general,
applicants "need to understand what you need (and) when you need
it" from the FAA, he said during a conference panel. Encouraging
companies to move quickly to try various operational concepts, he
said "we'll help you get there."
Amazon, for instance, has said its long-term goal is to pick up
packages weighing a maximum of 5 pounds from distribution centers
and whisk them to customers within a 20-mile radius. Navigating
safely over populated areas and landing in pinpoint locations
remain two of the most difficult challenges.
Along with General Electric Co., Google unit and a handful of
other aerospace and Silicon Valley companies, Amazon has sketched
out principles for a separate, low-altitude traffic-control network
intended to be funded and run by a fast-growing industry
encompassing more than 10,000 drone-related companies and 70,000
registered commercial aerial vehicles.
Before any of that becomes reality, FAA and industry leaders
face an uphill battle convincing local governments that noise,
privacy and security fears can be alleviated. Late last year, an
industry-government task force failed to reach consensus on the
notion that "state and local governments, through their police
powers, are the exclusive regulators of land use, zoning, privacy
and trespass" protections for their citizens.
In some cases, those principles mean neighborhood controls could
pre-empt federal approvals. In announcing the disagreement among
participants, Brendan Schulman, co-chair of the task force and a
top policy and legal official for drone maker DJI, at the time said
participants were "very much looking forward to new direction from
the FAA."
Still, the impetus for delivery solutions is accelerating, and
such flights appear inevitable.
"We face tremendous congestion on the roads, but we have
virtually unlimited capacity above us," said Brian Wynne, president
of the industry's largest trade association. "Why wouldn't we use
that?"
The FAA's latest strategy reflects "an attitude of regulatory
humility," acting administrator Daniel Elwell said in a keynote
speech at the conference stressing enhanced cooperation with
operators. Agency policy makers "cannot make the mistake of
thinking we have all the answers," he added.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
March 11, 2018 16:22 ET (20:22 GMT)
Copyright (c) 2018 Dow Jones & Company, Inc.
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