Amazon drone delivery is coming to the Chicago area as soon as this summer.
Customers living in some south suburbs will have the option to get drone deliveries.
The packages will be flown from the fulfillment facilities in Markham and Matteson.
“If you are within an 8-mile radius of those buildings you should be eligible for drone delivery,” said Josh Brundage, Prime Air senior manager of commercial operations. “Deliveries should be less than two hours.”
He said there is a “wow” factor to the deliveries.
Other south suburbs in the delivery zone include Harvey, Flossmoor and Tinley Park, whose village manager says they learned about the program last month.
“We have a helipad used, one of the largest public safety drone worked out between us and Amazon and how this is going to work,” Tinley Park Village Manager Pat Carr said.
Items eligible for drone delivery are about 5 pounds and the size of a shoe box.
The service will cost Prime members an extra $4.99 per order and non-members $9.99.
Amazon is hosting a community meeting on March 2.
You can ask questions and see one of their drones up close.
The blue and white drones are 83 pounds.
Prime Air first launched nearly five years ago and has already been deployed in eight cities across the United States.
But, a recent report of a drone crash in Richardson, Texas on Wednesday has raised questions about safety.
“Our goal is to provide this level of speed with the utmost level of safety and certainly not add anything negative to the community and environment,” Brundage said.
And while city officials participating in the program are optimistic, it’s getting a mixed reception from some residents.
Local business owner David Crave thinks the drone delivery could be a good idea.
“I think it’s worth a try. I really don’t wanna see it eliminate jobs, but I think it’s worth trying,” Crave said.
