Shortly after receiving final approval from the FAA for drone deliveries , Amazon already has its first rival, Walmart.
Walmart announced it will begin a pilot program with drone company Flytrex to deliver groceries and other household items from its stores in areas across the U.S. Flytrex had previously received FAA approval for food deliveries in North Carolina
The pilot program will mostly be used to gather information for a future service, so the skies won't be filled with drones just yet.
“The drones, which are controlled via the cloud using a smart and easy- to-use, will help us gain valuable insight into the experience of our customers and associates – from pick-up and packaging to take-off and delivery,” said Walmart senior vice president Tom Ward.
The Flytrex drones used by Walmart can carry 15 pounds to a height of 380 feet for a distance of 3.5 miles (and back) at up to 32 mph. They use a wire release mechanism to lower the shipping boxes attached to them from eighty feet, ensuring “a quiet and safe delivery,” Flytrex wrote on its website.
Walmart's drones will fly under FAA Part 107 rules, which require the drone to remain within visual line of sight and be supported by a remote pilot.
The FAA has already issued more advanced Part 135 air carrier certificates to Amazon and Google ’s Wing Aviation , which allows drone deliveries without visual line-of-sight. However, Flytrex recently received approval for a parachute safety system that could pave the way for permission to fly over populated areas.
