Amazon begins Prime Air MK30 deliveries in Nampa, Idaho, DroneXL reports
According to DroneXL, the hub serves homes within 7.5 miles, flies in daylight only and carries packages of up to 5 lb. DroneXL also found no Idaho document on the FAA's public drone environmental review index.
Amazon started Prime Air drone deliveries in Nampa, Idaho, on Friday, October 30. It is flying MK30 aircraft from a launch pad next to its East Franklin Road fulfillment center to homes within 7.5 miles, according to DroneXL. DroneXL says this is Amazon's first drone delivery site in Idaho and, by its own count, Amazon's 13th US metro.
Editor's note: All details here come from a single secondary source, DroneXL's November 2 report, which cites Idaho News 6, KBOI, Amazon and the FAA. The UAV Post has not independently confirmed them with Amazon, the FAA or the City of Nampa. This story is held for human review.
Who is affected
DroneXL says the delivery circle in Amazon's permit application covers Meridian, Star, Middleton, Kuna and part of Boise. Idaho News 6 reported at launch that flights run from 30 minutes after sunrise to 30 minutes before sunset. Packages are limited to 5 lb. Prime members pay nothing on orders of $50 or more and $2.99 on smaller orders. Everyone else pays $4.99.
In May, Amazon said flights would begin 30 minutes before sunrise. DroneXL also notes that the FAA approved a 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. day for Amazon's 22 Texas hubs, and a 6 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. window in its Florida and Omaha decisions. No source has said why the Nampa hours are shorter.
Regulatory record
DroneXL says the FAA's public drone environmental review index had no Idaho document when it checked on November 2, and that the index was last updated October 14. DroneXL also reports that since July 28, a hub that fits the FAA's national environmental finding can be cleared through an internal review, with no public site document and no public comment period. The UAV Post has not reviewed the FAA document behind that change.
DroneXL says Nampa is the second Amazon hub since September to start flying with no FAA document on the public index, after North Randall, Ohio. It says Markham went live in October with only a draft.
Nampa's Planning and Zoning Commission voted 6-1 on May 26 to approve a conditional use permit for a 21,000 sq ft drone delivery center, according to Idaho News 6 as cited by DroneXL. DroneXL says that permit is the only government record of the hub it has found, and that it has not seen the permit's conditions. Amazon says Prime Air holds a Part 135 air carrier certificate and that every operation is FAA-authorized.
What is not yet known
Fleet size: In May, Amazon projected 12 to 15 drones and about 30 jobs. It has not said how many aircraft are flying from Nampa.
Aircraft weight: DroneXL says Amazon's FAA filings list the MK30 at 83.2 lb at takeoff with 5 lb of cargo. Idaho News 6 described it as an 85-pound aircraft. DroneXL reports that no filing or Amazon specification lists a parachute.
Unplanned landings: DroneXL reports that MK30s made unplanned landings in Waco and Baton Rouge in September. It gives no causes, and this brief makes no finding on them.
FAA clearance: It has not been confirmed whether the FAA cleared the Nampa hub through internal review under its national finding.