Amazon's delivery drones, which lift off and travel as far as 7.5 miles to drop off packages, are being marketed as ultra fast, safe and convenient. But their flight paths have drawn complaints from some neighbors who have started calling the operation a highway of drones.
Residents living under the flight paths say the drones fly too low, are too loud, and that there are simply too many of them. One resident said the drones have sometimes been flying over her home every three to five minutes, an intrusion she said is hard to ignore.
Concerns have gone beyond noise. Earlier this year, one resident captured video of a drone crashing into her apartment building and smoking outside her window. Others have criticized the technology as heavy handed, including footage that showed a package being dropped near a running dog.
Amazon warns on its website that shoppers should keep pets away from the selected delivery point. The company has also pushed back on the noise complaints, saying its new drones operate at less than 70 decibels, which it says is no louder than a delivery van passing by.
Amazon told NBC News that it has increased flight altitudes and adjusted flight paths in order to reduce the impact on residential areas. The company also said the feedback on the delivery drones has been overwhelmingly positive, and that the drones fly between 200 and 400 feet.
Under federal rules, the Federal Aviation Administration requires commercial drones to fly under 400 feet and to carry packages that weigh no more than five pounds. Even so, some residents say they hope their concerns are not drowned out in the high speed delivery race.