FAA grounds Amazon's Prime Air delivery drone

Amazon’s Prime Air drone delivery system won’t be taking off anytime soon according to a recent document released by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

The FAA’s document, released with an invite for public comment on drone policy, does not specify the Ecommerce giant by name, but clearly states delivering packages using an unmanned aerial vehicle is not legal. The air delivery system unveiled in November, falls under regulations which prohibit the use of drones for commercial use.

"This has no effect on our plans. This is about hobbyists and model aircrafts, not Amazon." said Paul Misener, Vice President of Global Public Policy for Amazon when asked to comment on the FAA’s document.

The Amazon package carrying drone was unveiled on current events program 60 Minutes, after a weeklong build up. Many believed the unveiling was to be for the recently announced Fire Phone, but Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos surprised almost everyone when he showed off the quad-copter with the Amazon branding on its side.

Amazon Prime Air received mixed reviews from consumers and experts alike. Beyond the outlandishness of antonymous drones delivering thousands of packages in front of a utopic background, or the even then current regulations, many were positive it would be some time until such a system takes off.

After the initial unveiling on December 1^st, not much has been added on the program; leaving many to believe the 60 Minutes unveiling was nothing more than a Cyber Monday promotion. The FAA’s recent document does help reinsure that belief.

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