Flytrex gets FAA OK to make drone deliveries in Fayetteville, NC

Flytrex has received a regulatory waiver to make drone deliveries to thousands of households in Fayetteville, NC. With this authorization, the Israeli startup will be allowed to fly its aircraft over relatively populated areas.

• For what it’s worth: Fayetteville has a population of roughly 210,000.

Victory lap?

Flytrex says the FAA’s decision paves the way for “the largest-scale backyard drone deliveries of goods known to date.” If we’re talking about non-medical goods, then this is likely true.

The company’s drones fly at 32 mph and 230 ft. high in the sky. When they get close to backyards, Flytrex’s dropoff point of choice, the drones decelerate and release the package via wire. In Fayetteville, Flytrex will deliver food, drinks, and other items from Walmart and other retailers.

Bottom line: When it comes to drones and the laboratories of democracy, North Carolina is first in flight yet again (although Virginia and North Dakota are not far behind). At the national level, the FAA is gradually taking steps to enable commercial drone delivery, which include authorizations for night flight and operations conducted over people.

+ While we’re here: We interviewed Flytrex CEO Yariv Bash a couple months ago.