Massachusetts DOT Tells Amazon to Hold Off on Westborough Drone Deliveries: Aviation Approval and Public Hearing Required First
The Massachusetts Department of Transportation wrote to Amazon on October 22 requiring the company to obtain a certificate of approval from the department's Aeronautics Division before moving forward with its drone delivery program, with a public hearing required before any approval is granted. The letter, signed by Aeronautics Division Administrator Denise Garcia, states that Massachusetts must complete a sustainability review to ensure there is no threat to safety before permission to fly can be granted, and that the department has not received any such request for review from Amazon.
The letter also said the division will take into account the outcome of pending litigation over the Federal Aviation Administration's approach to environmental review for drone delivery, which Massachusetts has joined along with several states. MassDOT said separately that it has heard public safety, privacy and surveillance concerns from the community about the proposed program and that these concerns could affect the state's approval determination.
Interim Transportation Secretary Phillip Eng said MassDOT has made clear that Amazon must obtain approval from the Aeronautics Division before moving forward, that the state will carefully scrutinize its plans, and that Amazon will need to demonstrate that its operations will not pose a risk to public safety and will minimize safety impacts on surrounding neighborhoods and the environment. Amazon's Prime Air drone delivery would operate from its Otis Street facility in Westborough, serving properties within a 7.5-mile radius covering all or parts of 15 communities, including Westborough, Shrewsbury, Grafton and Worcester. Earlier this week, a Westborough special town meeting voted overwhelmingly to pass a bylaw restricting drone flights.
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 马萨诸塞州 Westborough 镇政厅，作者 John Phelan，CC BY 3.0，来源 Wikimedia Commons
