(The Center Square) – Amazon shoppers in Arizona’s West Valley could get their next package from the skies.
The Federal Aviation Administration cleared drone delivery for items that weight five pounds and under to go from the e-commerce platform’s Tolleson warehouse to people in the area.
The company said that many smaller items will be available to customers through “Prime Air” as part of same-day delivery, which will come at an additional cost due to the method of transportation. According to Amazon’s website, the packages can sometimes be sent within the hour if its during the day.
However, the service is only currently available in the West Valley and College Station, Texas, and it can only qualify for “one eligible item.”
Tolleson Mayor Juan Rodriguez said in a statement previously that it will help drive “opportunities and economic growth” and Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego said the process is a step in the right direction environmentally.
“This kind of delivery is the future, and it’s exciting that it will be starting in the Phoenix Metro Area,” Gallego previously said in a statement, according to a news release. “The shift toward zero-emission package delivery will help us reduce local pollution and further cement our city as a hotbed for the innovative technology of tomorrow.”
Amazon’s kickstarted the process to offer the unusual delivery mode in 2020 after it received an Air Carrier Certificate for the drones.
