DoorDash Gets FAA Clearance for In-House Drone Program: DoorDash Air
DoorDash has won approval from the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to run its own delivery drones, while emphasizing that most food deliveries will still be handled by humans.
Key Takeaways:
- Certification: DoorDash secured a Part 135 air carrier certification, becoming the eighth US operator to achieve this.
- Narrow Scope: The approval does not include flying beyond the operator’s line of sight, which is crucial for a wider network.
- Drone Development: DoorDash has designed its own drone, developed within their robotics unit, marking a shift from renting to owning drone technology.
- Partnerships Continue: Despite in-house development, DoorDash plans to continue partnerships with Alphabet’s Wing and Israeli firm Flytrex.
- Economic Benefits: Owning the drones allows DoorDash to control costs and design more effectively.
- Speed Focus: DoorDash claims drone deliveries can average under 25 minutes for trips within five miles.
- Balanced Perspective: Executives downplayed the drone as a futuristic novelty, framing it as one tool within a wider network that includes sidewalk robots and bicycle delivery.
In their words:
“We didn’t start with the question, what’s the coolest autonomous tech we could make,” said co-founder and chief product officer Stanley Tang.
"We want drone delivery to work for any merchant, anywhere," said Harrison Shih, head of DoorDash Air.