FAA Rules Make Drone Jobs Head Overseas

When Google announced it was testing drone delivery service it was likely a surprise -- Google did all its testing in Australia, not the United States. Other companies are expected to do the same, according to reports.

The Federal Aviation Administration has rules about using "unmanned aerial vehicles" meaning that each tech company would need approval from the FAA and test only at a government run test site, according to Forbes.This is likely the reason that Google decided to do its testing in Australia, and likely where other tech companies will go, too.

Amazon was faced with the same predicament and asked the FAA for permission and waited months, according to the Forbes piece. Amazon wrote about the wait:

We have been limited to conducting R&D flights indoors or in other countries. Of course, Amazon would prefer to keep the focus, jobs, and investment of this important research and development initiative in the United States by conducting private research and development operations outdoors near Seattle.

In short, why wait for months when you can take your company out to the Australian outback, or the Swiss alps or Argentine pampas? Of course, those tech companies will be taking their drones and their new jobs there, too.

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