The Light in Ameriflight

On 30 May 2023, Ameriflight announced it had received approval from the Federal Aviation Administration to operate drone aircraft. The approval renders Ameriflight the first Part 135 Cargo airline to receive such exemption and allows the air-carrier to conduct Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) operations under its current Part 119 Air Carrier Certificate for Part 135 operations. Moreover, the FAA has granted Ameriflight approval to add Matternet’s M2 UAS—the first drone-delivery system granted standard Type Certification by the Federal Aviation Administration—to its fleet, thereby heralding the launch of the United States’ first fully operational, large-scale drone-delivery operation.