In Texas, residents are expressing their dissatisfaction with Amazon's drone delivery program.

• Amazon is looking to obtain FAA approval to expand its drone delivery service in College Station, Texas, where it primarily conducts testing.
• The program, which has been struggling to take off, is now under investigation from College Station residents due to complaints about the high noise levels.
• In July, Amazon announced that it would relocate its drone facility to a greater distance from residential areas.

Recently, on a weekday morning, John Case recognized the familiar buzzing outside his suburban home in College Station, Texas. It was one of 's Prime Air drones, delivering small packages of batteries, vitamins, and dog treats.

"In an interview, Case, a semi-retired orthodontist, described the noise as a "giant hive of bees," indicating its imminent arrival."

The drone program of Amazon, which was started in 2022 to deliver packages, is facing the latest challenge with noise complaints. The program has been struggling to get off the ground due to regulatory hurdles, missed deadlines, and layoffs that coincided with cost-cutting efforts by CEO Andy Jassy. This ambitious service, which was conceived of by Jeff Bezos more than a decade ago, has been halted due to these challenges.

Amazon has been testing its Prime Air service in College Station, which is approximately 100 miles northwest of Houston, to demonstrate its ability to deliver packages to residents' homes using unmanned aircraft within an hour. However, Amazon's operation in Lockeford, California, south of Sacramento, was shut down in April. Currently, the company is seeking regulatory approval to begin deliveries in Tolleson, Arizona, which is west of Phoenix.

As Amazon plans to expand Prime Air to new regions, it faces a challenge due to the complaints of residents in College Station, Texas, who are frustrated with the drones' loud buzzing near their homes, as expressed in a July letter to the Federal Aviation Administration by Mayor John Nichols.

Residents in neighborhoods near Prime Air's facility in College Station have expressed concern to the City Council about drone noise levels, particularly during take-off and landing, as well as in some delivery operations, according to Nichols.

Amazon has submitted a proposal to the FAA to increase its daily deliveries from 200 to 469 flights, expand its delivery area from 44 to 174 square miles, and operate between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m., instead of being limited to daylight hours.

Before Amazon submitted its request to the FAA, residents petitioned local legislators to halt the company's expansion plans. During a city council meeting in June, Ralph Thomas Moore, whose neighborhood is situated "less than 500 feet away from the launch pad," demonstrated the raucous noise level of the drones by playing a chainsaw recording.

If Amazon's wish is granted, there will be a maximum of 940 takeoffs and landings, with each drone delivering a package weighing no more than five pounds, as stated by Moore during the meeting.

"He stated that Amazon is seeking FAA approval for this, which he considered a massive violation of personal space and a substantial impact on the neighborhood."

At the meeting, College Station's city manager, Bryan Woods, stated that city officials conducted tests on a Prime Air drone and discovered its noise levels were between 47 and 61 decibels. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration classifies chainsaws at 125 decibels and heavy equipment at 95 to 110 decibels.

Amazon's Prime Air is aimed at streamlining the last mile of delivery by using drones, potentially reducing the cost of maintaining a fleet of delivery drivers and decreasing the need for gas-guzzling vans. However, the success of this service depends on Amazon's ability to make it accessible to the masses.

In May, Amazon achieved a significant milestone when the FAA approved the company to fly its delivery drones over longer distances without ground-based observers. The company celebrated the news and stated that it "paves the way" for the service to expand into new markets.

'Fantastic technology, wrong location'

Amina Alikhan compared drones to a fly that repeatedly buzzes near your ear and you can't shoo away.

Alikhan, an internal medicine doctor living near Amazon's drone airport in College Station, stated that the noise from the drones is disrupting our ability to enjoy both outdoor and indoor spaces.

Case stated that his neighbors have expressed dissatisfaction with the drones' loud noise, which interferes with their ability to work or relax in their yard or patio. The sound is sometimes so loud that it can be heard indoors. As a result, Case wrote a letter to the mayor and city council of College Station, expressing his concerns about the issue.

"I believe nobody anticipated how noisy and irritating Amazon's presence in the city would become," Case remarked.

The head of a local homeowners association stated that Amazon assured the neighborhood that the drones would fly at least 400 feet above the ground during operation.

The drones flying over residential properties at 100 feet or less can make it uncomfortable to lounge by the pool, said the person who requested anonymity to protect her privacy.

According to data submitted by Amazon to the FAA, the current iteration of their delivery drone typically flies at an altitude of 160 to 180 feet.

The MK30, a smaller and quieter drone, is planned to be introduced by Amazon. It is expected to begin operation in College Station and Phoenix after receiving approval from the FAA.

The MK30 drone is designed to reduce its perceived noise by almost half and fly at a higher cruising altitude of between 180 to 377 feet above ground level, except when descending to drop a package, as per the FAA.

Residents of College Station urged Amazon to leave their neighborhoods entirely as concerns intensified. On July 24, leaders from Prime Air held a Zoom meeting with College Station residents.

According to a recording obtained by CNBC, Matt McCardle, head of regulatory affairs and strategy for Prime Air, stated at a meeting that the company would not renew its lease in College Station and would relocate to another location by October 2025.

Stephenson, Amazon's representative, stated that the company is exploring different options, including the possibility of establishing a new drone facility.

Bob Yancy, a College Station City Council member, stated that the company has agreed to decrease the number of flights per hour. He intends to suggest that Amazon relocate its drone port to the location of a former Macy's store, which is currently owned by the city and situated in a nearby shopping mall.

In April, Amazon announced its plans to integrate Prime Air into its same-day delivery network, rather than establishing standalone drone facilities. The company aims to launch its drone facilities in the Phoenix area, with its launchpad located on the same site as an Amazon warehouse known as SAZ2. A major neighborhood called Roosevelt Park is located just a couple hundred feet from the facility.

Yancy expressed at the meeting that he remains fond of the program and values the convenience of having toothbrushes, cookies, and bottles of aspirin delivered to his home in a timely manner within an hour.

To keep Prime Air in College Station, Amazon must reduce the noise level of its drones or position them further away from residents.

Yancy remarked, "I believe the program's headline is incorrect - great technology, incorrect location."

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