Delivery drones coming to U.S. neighborhoods

by Daniel Fink, MD, Chair, The Quiet Coalition

Photo credit: Darrel Und

ABC News recently reported on proposed delivery drone regulations from the Federal Aviation Administration. As best as I can tell, the details remain uncertain because the draft regulations have not yet been published in the Federal Register for public comment.

The report discusses delivery drone use in other countries and in a handful of locations in which it has been used in the United States. If drone delivery can be used successfully in South Korea, it can probably work here.

The report mentions noise concerns, with some complaining that the drones sound like giant mosquitoes.  I also have concerns about safety and privacy, as well as about regular drone use in densely populated urban areas.

We will follow this story when the proposed regulations are published and if drone delivery expands. I would ask readers who live in communities where drone delivery is already in use to let us know about the noise levels. I can’t predict the future, and only time will tell if drone delivery actually works here.