Amazon delivery drones require FAA approval because they operate under commercial purposes, specifically for delivering packages. This involves flying beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS), carrying cargo, and integrating into national airspace in a way that ensures safety for both people on the ground and other aircraft.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) regulates such activities through specific certifications like Part 135, which governs air carriers that fly for compensation or hire. Amazon must demonstrate that its drones can safely detect and avoid obstacles, comply with air traffic rules, and maintain operational safety standards, which includes undergoing rigorous testing and providing detailed evidence to the FAA.
This is why Amazon's drone operations have been limited to specific test areas and only recently expanded with new FAA permissions to fly beyond visual line of sight in select locations.
On the other hand, unidentified drones, can fly 'legally' under certain conditions without immediate FAA intervention for several reasons:
Recreational Use: If these drones are being flown for recreational purposes, they fall under less stringent regulations. Operators need only to register their drones if they weigh more than 0.55 pounds and adhere to basic safety rules like keeping the drone within visual line of sight (VLOS), flying below 400 feet, and avoiding restricted airspace. However, enforcement for non-compliance might be less immediate or visible, especially for one-off or sporadic flights.
Unknown or Untraceable: Many mystery drones might be using technology or modifications that make them untraceable, or they might simply not be complying with FAA regulations like Remote ID, which broadcasts a drone's location and telemetry. If these drones do not adhere to these regulations, they might not be immediately identifiable or traceable by authorities, making enforcement challenging.
Limited Law Enforcement Capability: Local law enforcement might not have the resources or technology to quickly identify or intercept drones, especially if they are flying in areas where they cause no immediate harm or are following basic flight rules despite being unregistered or not broadcasting an ID.
Potential for Non-Compliance: Some operators might simply ignore regulations, banking on the low probability of immediate detection or the complexities involved in tracking down non-compliant drone operations.
The discrepancy here lies primarily in the nature of the operations (commercial vs. possibly recreational or unregistered), the scale of operations, and the visibility of the operator (Amazon being a known entity with clear operational areas vs. unknown operators). While the FAA has the authority to regulate all drone flights, the practical enforcement of these regulations on unknown drones can be less effective, leading to scenarios where such flights continue without immediate legal repercussions. they can fly, but do so in a grey area of regulatory oversight.
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