Drones aren’t prime time ready just yet

Netflix has released a satirical video promoting Drone2-Home DVD delivery to customers, a swipe at Amazon’s forthcoming drone service Prime Air. The video narrator says, “Unlike others trying to rush unproven technology to market, we have literally spent days working out most of the bugs,” even as a drone delivers to a man at a urinal.


Ouch! That was aimed at Jeff Bezos, who’d said he’s working out kinks to ensure the drones don’t land on somebody’s head! Netflix is miffed with Amazon as they are going head-tohead on video streaming and original TV programming. Despite public hostility, Netflix is hosted by Amazon on its cloud. If that’s a contradiction, consider this: the entire drone industry has tied itself in knots in the regulatory vacuum.

For now, FAA is sticking to its 2007 stance that commercial use of drones is illegal though it has okayed ConocoPhillips’ use of drones to monitor Arctic icebergs. Jeff Bezos may be waiting for FAA nod to begin Prime Air, but he already sells drones on Amazon. While rules are being drafted, the market is exploding. Didn’t we all watch Freefly Cinema’s drone work for The Wolf of Wall Street? Meanwhile, you can spy on your neighbour using drones, if no money has changed hands, since FAA has allowed their use for recreation under a rule designed for model aeroplanes.