SAN FRANCISCO, April 23 (Xinhua) -- Alphabet Inc.-owned Wing Aviation LLC said Tuesday it has been certified by the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) as the first drone delivery operator for commercial service.
Wing, an Alphabet subsidiary, obtained the FAA certification to operate as an airline, which would allow the company to begin drone deliveries in the United States.
With the Air Carrier Certification, Wing can launch a commercial service delivering packages from local businesses to homes in the United States, said the company.
"Goods like medicine or food can now be delivered faster by drone, giving families, shift workers, and other busy consumers more time to do the things that matter," Wing said.
"Air delivery also provides greater autonomy to those who need assistance with mobility. Also, our all-electric drones will reduce traffic on our roads and pollution and carbon emissions in our skies," it added.
The drone company disclosed that more than 70,000 test flights and over 3,000 deliveries have been conducted before it got the green-light from the FAA.
Wing said it has spent six years in building a "small, lightweight aircraft and navigational system that can safely deliver small packages on demand to specific destinations in only a few minutes."
U.S. Secretary of Transportation Elaine L. Chao called the FAA certification issued to Wing "an important step forward for the safe testing and integration of drones into our economy."
Wing is expected to begin delivery service in Southwest Virginia, and plans to solicit feedback from two communities in the Blacksburg and Christiansburg areas in the U.S. state of Virginia in the next few months, before a delivery trial is launched later this year.
Other companies such as Uber and UPS are also working for a federal permit for commercial drone deliveries.
