Amazon signs on to Know Before You Fly campaign

Amazon is one of the latest companies to get on board with the Know Before You Fly campaign.

The aim of Know Before You Fly, launched a year ago, by the Association for Unmanned Vehicles International and the American Academy of Model Aeronautics in partnership with the Federal Aviation Administration, is to provide new UAS operators with basic safety information.

Amazon joins 50 others companies, associations and federal organizations which have signed on to Know Before You Fly. Others joining in the past month are: ASSURE FAA Center of Excellence for UAS, (Mississippi State University), Avion Solutions Inc., Aviation Systems Engineering Co., Bridge City Robotics, Buddy RC, Drone Universities, Eagle Eye Drone Service, Ehang, FSX Chicago, getfpv.com, Hobby Saver, Hover, International Air Transport Association (IATA), the Matanuska-Susitna (Alaska) Borough Council and School District, the National Retail Hobby Stores Association, Parallax, SF Drone School, Seiclone Surveys, Tower Hobbies, the Toy Industry Association, and Traxxas.

About a month ago, only 26 entities were listed on the Know Before You Fly web site so with the addition of the latest, the number signed on to the campaign has nearly doubled. There is expected to be a bumper crop of UAS sales this holiday season, with estimates of 400,000 to a million of the unmanned aerial systems being purchased as gifts.

“Amazon has long been a leader in promoting safe and responsible UAS use,” said Brian Wynne president and CEO of the Association of Unmanned Vehicles Systems. “This commitment will ensure consumers who turn to Amazon for the latest UAS technology will also learn where and how to fly.”

Some Know Before You Fly supporters have promoted the campaign in their products, according to a Know Before You Fly news release. Manufacuturers Ehlang and Parallax and retailer Tower Hobbies are including Know Before You Fly safety fliers in their shipments, the news release said.