• Amazon’s Prime Air has secured the world’s first SAIL 4 approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The authorisation is the result of the most thorough safety assessment of any drone system in the UK.
• The authorisation is a global first, stated by Amazon to be a ‘landmark moment’ as the SAIL 4 (Specific Assurance and Integrity Level 4) Operating Authorisation and Flightworthiness Validation is currently reported to be one of the most demanding processes in the UK to comply with.
• Prime Air’s redundant systems also include six motors and a three-cell battery. Eligible items that can be delivered are those weighing up to 2.2kg that fit within the aircraft’s carrying capacity.

Amazon’s Prime Air has secured the world’s first SAIL 4 approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA). The authorisation is the result of the most thorough safety assessment of any drone system in the UK.

The authorisation is a global first, stated by Amazon to be a ‘landmark moment’ as the SAIL 4 (Specific Assurance and Integrity Level 4) Operating Authorisation and Flightworthiness Validation is currently reported to be one of the most demanding processes in the UK to comply with.

Prime Air’s aircraft, systems and operation have completed the assessment, benchmarked against the most stringent safety and regulatory standards.

Reaching SAIL 4 means thousands more households in the Darlington area, growing from around 600 eligible customers to roughly 8,000, can now get the everyday items they need delivered to their door, in under two hours, rather than adding an extra trip to their day.

“Prime Air is the first in the world to receive a SAIL 4 approval from the UK Civil Aviation Authority. Earning it took years of disciplined engineering and a commitment to safety from day one. I want to thank the CAA, who worked alongside us at every step. For customers in Darlington it means getting what they need quickly, safely, and reliably, and it is the foundation for bringing Prime Air to more of the UK,” Theunis Scheepers, Director of Prime Air Europe stated.

“Innovation is transforming aviation, and the UK Civil Aviation Authority’s role is to ensure that happens safely. As technologies such as Amazon’s drone delivery services mature and become more commonplace, we’re helping to create conditions that allow innovation to thrive, while maintaining the high safety standards that underpin UK aviation,” Sophie O’Sullivan, Director of Future Safety & Innovation at the UK Civil Aviation Authority said.

“Amazon achieving a SAIL 4 Operational Authorisation (OA) demonstrates not only the safety and integrity of their aircraft and operation, but also their commitment to innovation and growth in the UK aerospace sector. This first in-kind announcement marks another important step towards safely integrating new technologies into UK airspace, supporting growth, and helping to ensure the UK remains a world leader in aerospace innovation. It also reflects the wider progress being made as the aviation sector evolves and new technologies become part of everyday operations.”

The drone – MK30 aircraft

Prime Air’s drone, the MK30 aircraft, incorporates a detect-and-avoid system that acts as its eyes in the sky.

Using machine-learning models, the onboard systems continuously monitor the surrounding airspace throughout each flight, recognising other aircraft, people, animals and physical obstacles, and determining whether corrective action is needed.

As it descends to deliver, those same systems identify and steer clear of hazards such as clotheslines or trampolines that would not appear on a satellite map.

An independent monitoring computer oversees the main flight-control system and, should it detect any irregularity in flight, can instantly hand control to a secondary system and initiate an automated return to base or a safe, controlled landing.

Prime Air’s redundant systems also include six motors and a three-cell battery. Eligible items that can be delivered are those weighing up to 2.2kg that fit within the aircraft’s carrying capacity.

This covers, according to Amazon, a large share of the things customers order most often. Customers see which items are eligible as they shop and at checkout.

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