Amazon Begins Drone Deliveries From Franklin Road Facility

Amazon has started flying packages to customers from its facility on Franklin Road in Meridian. The company said its delivery drones are now operating in the Treasure Valley. The drones can travel about seven and a half miles from the building. That range covers three cities: Nampa, Star, and Meridian.

The program arrives as more people in Idaho order goods for home delivery. Amazon said it can now drop off items within hours of an order. The company started as an online bookstore. Its services have expanded to include same-day delivery.

Nampa and Caldwell have also equipped police departments with drones for their own use. Those agencies have reported flying the aircraft for recent operations. Amazon has not said how many drones it will use for deliveries. It also did not say which products will be carried by air. Amazon said it will move cargo from the Franklin Road location.

The drones will fly over residential streets in Nampa, Star, and Meridian. The range ends seven and a half miles from the Meridian building. Amazon said its aircraft will handle the last part of the trip to the door. The company said the aircraft are part of its plan to shorten delivery times.

Amazon did not release the number of homes it can reach. It did not say how many packages it plans to ship each day. The company has not announced when it might add more cities to the service. Amazon said the drones will fly from the Franklin Road site.

The service puts delivery aircraft over neighborhoods in three cities. Amazon said it will use the drones to bring items to customers. The drones will depart from Franklin Road and cover a radius of seven and a half miles.