Troubled Amazon drone delivery program faces latest challenge: Annoyed residents
Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery program in College Station, Texas, faces noise complaints from residents. The company plans to introduce quieter drones and may relocate its facility by 2025.
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Amazon's drone delivery program, Prime Air, is facing significant opposition from residents in College Station, Texas, where it has been testing operations. The program, which aims to deliver packages within an hour, has been met with complaints about noise levels from the drones, described by residents as disruptive and comparable to a "giant hive of bees." College Station Mayor John Nichols has expressed concerns to the FAA regarding the noise, particularly during take-off and landing. Amazon is seeking FAA approval to increase its delivery flights from 200 to 469 per day and to expand its operational area. However, residents have voiced their frustrations, with some suggesting that the drones fly lower than promised, further impacting their quality of life. In response to the backlash, Amazon has indicated plans to introduce a quieter drone model and has agreed to reduce flight frequency. Additionally, the company is considering relocating its drone facility by October 2025. While some local officials support the technology, they acknowledge the need for adjustments to mitigate noise and improve community relations.
- Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery program is facing noise complaints from College Station residents.
- The company is seeking FAA approval to increase delivery flights and expand operational areas.
- Residents have reported that drones fly lower than expected, disrupting daily life.
- Amazon plans to introduce a quieter drone model and is considering relocating its facility.
- Local officials recognize the technology's potential but emphasize the need for noise reduction.
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10 commentsThat's surprisingly quiet. I don't know the situation in Texas, but 40% of the EU population is exposed to road traffic noise exceeding 55 dBA. My own back garden exceeds 60dBA for most of the day, with regular peaks closer to 70 dBA due to railway noise.
During a 2013 "60 Minutes" interview, Jeff Bezos, who was still Amazon's CEO at the time, famously predicted that Amazon's patented delivery drones could be operational within five years.
Where I earnestly think this could shine is in rural areas, particularly those where tortured terrain makes the roads a pain in the ass. Parts of Appalachia and the northwest spring to mind in the U.S.
Where I live in Portugal, my nearest city is 12km as the crow flies - or 55km by road. I literally cannot get mail delivered where I live, and have to drive 20km (6km as the crow flies) to the village post office to collect it, and I’m not alone in that.
Air seems like a no-brainier here, and I’d wager there would be induced demand and few people to bother.
Until Amazon (or others) can solve delivering to a balcony or a letterbox, they'll not be able to deliver to high-density population areas.
I would personally be furious to have these things flying around my home. Noise aside, these things almost certainly have cameras streaming back to Amazon.
Relevant Dust reference: [1]
This is the same reason that 'flying cars', which in many sense are big drones, is very unlikely to be an everyday thing.
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