Drones Dodge Rules: Zipline Petitions FAA for Sky-High Exemptions
Published Date: 12/10/2025
Notice
Summary
Zipline International, Inc. asked the FAA for special permission to skip some usual flight rules. This affects Zipline’s drone delivery operations and could speed up their services without extra costs for the public. People have until December 30, 2025, to share their thoughts before the FAA decides.
Analyzed Economic Effects
3 provisions identified: 3 benefits, 0 costs, 0 mixed.
Exemption from service difficulty reporting
Zipline asked the FAA for an exemption from parts of 14 CFR (Part 111, subparts B and C and sections 120.109(a), 120.109(b), 120.217(c)) so it would not have to submit service difficulty reports or mechanical interruption summary reports.
Exemption from employee drug and alcohol testing
Zipline petitioned for an exemption from 14 CFR requirements to conduct pre-employment and random drug testing and random alcohol testing of its covered employees (citing sections 135.415(a), 135.415(d), and 135.417(a)).
Exemption from pilot records reporting to PRD
Zipline asked the FAA for an exemption from reporting specified pilot records to the FAA's Pilot Records Database (PRD) under the cited provisions of 14 CFR.
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