Amazon officially asks FAA for permission to use drones

When it comes to using drones for delivery services, Amazon has been championing the possibility of the technology since December of last year. Several companies have been watching Amazon to see whether or not the Federal Aviation Administration will allow it to get its drones off the ground. So far all signs have pointed to no, but the company may have taken its first steps to change that.

According to the Associated Press, Amazon has officially petitioned the FAA for permission to use drones as part of its plan to deliver packages to customers. This will be part of the Amazon Prime Air service and will carry loads of up to 5 pounds at a speed of 50 miles per hour. This would be something that could be used in 86 percent of Amazon's deliveries.

This was announced in a letter to the FAA that the company made public this week. It mentions a testing plan that could include as many as six sites

"We believe customers will love it, and we are committed to making Prime Air available to customers worldwide as soon as we are permitted to do so," Amazon said in the letter.

It goes on to say that the company has a world-renowned team of experts in robotics, science, aeronautics and remote sensors all working  to make the program successful. By allowing the flights, the FAA will benefit the public by helping to advance what is possible through drone delivery.

This could be the first step in making drones a standard part of the business. However, it is still something that is far from being reality. This is where a reliable third party logistics firm can become a valuable resource for all shipping practices.