Dallas commercial drone industry set to expand with first-ever FAA approval

The Federal Aviation Administration will allow multiple operators to fly commercial drones in the same Dallas airspace without a person observing them, the agency announced this week.

Why it matters: The approval is a first for U.S. aviation and represents an expansion of the drone industry in recent years.

The big picture: Drone deliveries can be used for groceries , food and medicine .

• The FAA authorization will eventually make it easier for companies to offer drone deliveries.

Zoom in: Walmart is the most notable company in the Dallas-Fort Worth area to try , and expand , drone deliveries. The company announced this year that it was planning to add 1.8 million North Texas households to its drone delivery range.

State of play: Zipline International and Wing Aviation — which operate in the Dallas area and deliver by drone for Walmart — had requested authorization from the FAA to operate in a shared airspace and deliver packages while keeping their drones safely apart.

• Typically, a drone has to be in the line of sight of its operator.
• But with uncrewed aircraft traffic management technology and rigorous federal oversight, Zipline and Wing will be able to manage the airspace themselves, the FAA says.

How it works: The drone flights don't go over 400 feet altitude, staying away from other types of aircraft.

• The uncrewed aircraft traffic management technology will allow operators in the same airspace to coordinate — and keep apart — their drones by sharing their planned routes with each other.

What's next: Drone flights using the new technology will start this month, the FAA says. The administration also plans to issue more authorizations in the Dallas area.

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