Amazon begins hiring to launch drone delivery in Australia
Amazon is recruiting a head of regulatory approvals to bring its drone delivery service to Australia.
Amazon is now advertising for a senior role to handle all regulatory approvals needed to deliver packages by drone across Australia. In the US, its Prime Air service operates from 11 locations and flies packages up to 2.2kg as far as up to 12km from warehouses.
The company is aiming to expand to 500 US cities by year's end. Prime Air rollout has hit problems.
Drones have crashed into buildings. Noise complaints have sparked protests over low-flying aircraft.
Privacy concerns remain over camera and sensor systems flying above homes. Despite built-in cameras and collision avoidance technology, the challenges suggest Australia's approval process could take years.
- 2.2kg
- Max package weight
- 12km from warehouse
- Max delivery distance
- 11
- Current US locations
- 500 cities by year's end
- US expansion target
Why it mattersIf Amazon launches drone delivery, Australians could get packages faster. But regulators must first deal with safety, noise and privacy issues the US rollout has exposed.
AustraliaThe approval process will likely take years, meaning Australians won't see drone deliveries arrive immediately, but eventual approval could speed up parcel delivery across the country.
✓ Claims checked against the source. checked 2 h ago
Open this story in InSnip →
