U.S. Transportation Agency Sets Process for Approval of Drone Taxis

On-demand robotic flying taxis and drone deliveries are years away from reality, but the U.S. Department of Transportation has removed at least one barrier to their operation. Responding to work by companies including Boeing Co., Intel Corp. and Uber Technologies Inc., the department on Friday said it would use the same process to consider approval of drone taxis that would carry passengers and cargo for hire as it does for approving traditional commercial air carriers. Inc. and Alphabet Inc.'s Google unit are both developing drones to deliver products. Under U.S. law, the agency must certify that any business carrying people or cargo for hire is economically "fit, willing and able" to perform. Certifying an airline under those regulations can take years, but the DOT can exempt operators that are using smaller or mid-sized aircraft, it said in a notice set to be posted Monday in the Federal Register.