Amazon is set to expand its drone delivery service following the successful clearance of a hurdle by the FAA.

• Amazon overcame a significant regulatory obstacle, allowing it to expand its drone delivery services.
• The FAA has granted Amazon permission to operate drones beyond the line of sight of a ground observer, allowing it to cover greater distances.
• Since Jeff Bezos first envisioned Amazon's drone program, Prime Air, over a decade ago, the service has faced challenges in taking flight.

The company has received federal approval to fly its delivery drones longer distances without ground spotters, allowing it to scale the service to more parts of the U.S.

The Federal Aviation Administration has granted Amazon permission to fly its drones beyond the observer's line of sight.

The company announced plans to increase its delivery range in College Station, Texas, where it has been carrying out trials.

Amazon's drones have been equipped with collision-avoidance technology, allowing them to detect and avoid obstacles in the air. This technology has been crucial for other drone delivery companies, including Zipline, in their pursuit of beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations.

Since Jeff Bezos first unveiled his vision for Amazon's drone delivery service, Prime Air, over a decade ago, the e-commerce giant has faced challenges in implementing the program.

In 2022, Amazon announced plans to test deliveries in College Station, Texas, and Lockeford, California, where the program was initially met with some skepticism by residents.

Last year, Prime Air experienced layoffs as part of broader job cuts at Amazon, in addition to regulatory setbacks and executive departures. Recently, Amazon announced that it would end its drone operations in California and begin deliveries in Phoenix, Arizona, later this year.

The company aims to deliver 500 million packages per year by drone in the U.S. by 2025.

WATCH: Amazon's drone struggles