Amazon’s early-stage drone delivery service is running into resistance in a Texas community, where neighbors say the aircraft create relentless noise and have sparked worries about safety and personal privacy.
Prime Air launched operations in Richardson, a Dallas suburb, late last year. Soon after service began, residents started voicing frustration as Amazon’s 80-pound drones lifted off and flew at low altitudes above neighborhood rooftops, according to NBC DFW.
In February, one of the drones crashed into an apartment complex. Nobody was hurt, but the aircraft ended up on the ground emitting smoke.
Later, an Amazon representative told city council members that the crash appeared to be linked to “some type of interference” affecting the drone’s GPS near an apartment building “of that size.”
The spokesperson added that Amazon subsequently “removed all buildings of similar height and size from our delivery portfolio.”
Even so, residents now say they frequently watch the drones travel over their homes and a nearby school while heading to delivery destinations from the company’s launch site on Research Drive.
They have even dubbed the constant overhead traffic a ‘drone highway.’
‘They’ve taken away our peace in our neighborhood and our neighborhood streets,’ said Kristi Graham, who claimed to see the drones pass over her house every three to five minutes.
Amazon Prime Air began operating in Richardson, a suburb of Dallas, late last year
Almost immediately after, the company’s 80-pound drones began taking off and flying low over homes in what they described as a ‘drone highway’
They are also noisy as they pass overhead, residents said.
‘I can hear them in my home when I’m inside with the TV on,’ said Angie Rogers. ‘I can still hear them.’
But one of the larger concerns is how low the drones appear to be flying.
‘Those drones are barely at 100 feet over our homes,’ Graham told the news station.
‘We’ve had drone operators come out and demonstrate, and it is way too low.’
In March, Richardson’s City Manager said officials were encouraging Amazon to increase their base flying altitude to reduce neighbors’ concerns.
According to a Draft Environmental Assessment compiled by the Federal Aviation Administration, the maximum cruising altitude for these drones is 400 feet above ground level.
‘Flight operations would take place mostly in an urban or suburban environment, within airspace and typically remain well above the tree line while en route to and from a hub,’ the assessment reads.
It also notes that drone delivery operators may not fly over ‘open-air assemblies of people, schools during times of operation…, moving vehicles… and roadways or highways.’
Residents complained about the constant noise from the drones as they flew overhead
On Saturday, from at least four different neighborhoods in the city held a protest, demanding the city take action
But residents said their concerns about the drones have not been addressed – and have even claimed there was not enough communication about the program before the drones started launching.
Several residents went as far as to claim only one homeowners’ association was notified before the city council approved the measure.
‘We were unaware of it completely until the drones started flying like six months ago,’ Gary Martinie claimed.
Residents then started to complain about the program back in January, sharing their concerns with the city, the FAA, and Amazon.
Still, they say, they’ve seen little change.
‘We’ve complained to the city, we’ve complained to the FAA numerous times with really no results,’ said Martinie. ‘Some promises, but no results.’
Residents have claimed their concerns have not been addressed since they started complaining about the drones in January
In an effort to bring renewed attention to the issue, residents from at least four different neighborhoods in the city held a protest on Saturday, once again demanding city officials and Amazon take action.
‘I just wish they would relocate this drone port to a different area,’ said Nancy Crowe. ‘We would like them to go away and stop flying over our homes, our backyards, destroying our peace in our neighborhood.’
A spokesperson for Amazon, however, told NBC DFW that customer feedback on Prime Air deliveries has been overwhelmingly positive.
In an emailed statement, the spokesperson also emphasized that the company made efforts to engage with the local community before launch.
‘Our team engaged extensively with Richardson residents, city leaders and neighborhood associations before launching drone delivery in this area,’ the spokesperson said.
‘We also increased flight altitudes and adjusted flight paths to reduce impact on residential areas.’
The spokesperson added that the company respects residents’ rights to peacefully protest and welcomes company feedback.
‘We will continue working with community members and city officials to address their questions and concerns,’ the spokesperson said.
The Daily Mail has also reached out to Amazon, the FAA and city officials for comment.
