Wing Aviation Gets FAA Approval for Drone Delivery

A Google spinoff has become the first drone operator to receive Federal Aviation Administration approval as an airline, an important step that gives it the legal OK to begin delivery drops to customers.

Alphabet's Wing Aviation, which began as a Google X project, has been testing its autonomous drones in southwest Virginia and elsewhere, reported NPR.

"This is an important step forward for the safe testing and integration of drones into our economy. Safety continues to be our Number One priority as this technology continues to develop and realize its full potential," Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao said in a statement from the agency.

Wing plans to continue testing. in Southwest Virginia. "For the next several months, we’ll be reaching out to businesses and community members in the Blacksburg and Christiansburg (VA) areas to demonstrate our technology, answer questions, and solicit feedback with the goal of launching a delivery trial later this year,"  stated Wing in a blog post.