As a private pilot, but also a Part 107 Remote Pilot, I'm concerned about this proposed exemption. My primary issue is that a specific entity is seeking an exception to regulations to which everyone else must adhere. Rather than exempting a specific, commercial entity, why not create rules that would support these activities in a safe way for all commercial drone operations rather than by implementing carve-outs for a specific company? It would seem unfair that Amazon would get a competitive advantage by using regulatory relief that is unavailable to the public under the CFRs. Allowing an exemption for Amazon is anti-competitive and, frankly has some constitutional questions as one entity would be exempt while others would not. Laws and regulations should apply equally and specific companies should not get exemptions unless it's within a time-limited, specific, experimental scope.
I don't subscribe to all of the anti-drone hysteria -- the basis of my objection is about a single company being able to bend the CFRs to suit their business purpose while other, less lawyer-filled companies are unable to compete because they don't have the clout to get exemptions for their specific business need. This isn't about drones, it's about one entity being able to request exemptions unavailable to other operators.
Either change the CFRs to accommodate commercial drone delivery operations or keep things as they are -- but a company specific exemption goes against the idea of equal protection. Essentially, an exemption would be a state-sponsored monopoly -- shutting down competition from those unable to achieve a similar favoritism from the FAA.
To be clear, I support the furtherance of commercial drone innovation, I do not support company-specific exemptions. Improve the CFRs, don't abandon them at the whims of a specific operator.
