Amazon Drone Noise Sparks Controversy Over Prime Air Expansion
Amazon's Prime Air drone program has been rolled out in Richardson, Texas, but not without controversy. Residents living under the flight paths describe the noise as sounding like flying lawn mowers, audible indoors even with the TV on.
The company was authorized to operate from a local facility within a 7.5-mile service radius and between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m., with a maximum altitude of 400 feet set by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
Deliveries can arrive in as little as 30 minutes, with fees ranging from free to $4.99 depending on the order. However, residents have expressed concerns about the noise and frequency of flights.
Privacy is also a concern, as Amazon's drones carry multiple cameras and sensors for navigation, which could potentially capture images of residents' backyards. The company claims that stored images are kept on encrypted drives, accessible only to authorized personnel, but some residents remain skeptical.