You may have recently noticed an increase in commercial drone activity in our skies. Amazon has launched its Prime Air drone delivery service out of the Hazel Park regional fulfillment center. Pleasant Ridge falls within the drones’ 7.5-mile delivery radius, and those aircraft are now passing overhead or making deliveries.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has exclusive legal authority over all United States airspace “from the ground up.” Because Amazon operates under an official FAA Air Carrier Certificate (Part 135), municipal governments are federally prohibited from passing local ordinances to ban flights, create local “no-fly zones,” or regulate aircraft noise while a drone is in the air. The City of Pleasant Ridge does not have any regulatory powers over drones that remain in the air at all times while inside City limits.
No. The drones fly at an altitude below 400 feet. When delivering a package the drone descends to about 10 to 13 feet above the ground, hovers briefly, drops the package, and climbs back to transit altitude. Because the drones do not land in Pleasant Ridge, we do not have zoning or other terrestrial based regulatory powers over the deliveries.
This is a common concern. According to Amazon, the drones utilize low-resolution “sense-and-avoid” navigation cameras strictly to detect obstacles like branches, power lines, or birds while traveling.
Amazon is fully liable for the operation of their aircraft. If a package drop or mechanical malfunction causes damage to your home, vehicle, or landscaping, you must file a claim directly with Amazon Customer Service.
Because Pleasant Ridge has no jurisdiction over federal airspace, submitting complaints directly to Amazon or the FAA is the fastest way to get a resolution.
