THE FUTURE IS NOW
Amazon launches zippy Prime Air drone deliveries in San Antonio

Prime Air drone delivery is now live in San Antonio.
In the coming months, San Antonio will look more like The Jetsons' Orbit City. On Monday, November 17, Amazon announced that its Prime Air drone delivery service is officially live.
The service is designed for ultra-quick deliveries within a seven to eight-mile radius of its East Side facility at 6806 Cal Turner Dr. Out of onions for your gumbo recipe or a copy of Snoop Dog's gastronomic opus, From Crook to Cook? Prime Air can deliver it, along with hundreds of other lightweight items, in an hour or less.
The battery-powered drones are not intended to replace human drivers. Heavier packages and bulk orders will still be handled traditionally. The dispatches are also limited to one item per customer and cost $4.99-$9.99, depending on Prime membership. It's better for household mini-emergencies than retail therapy, although you can get a harmonica delivered if you feel a sudden need to sing the blues.
The San Antonio City Council paved the way for Prime Air in June, although not without some contentiousness. When Amazon requested a zoning change to its East Side facility to accommodate the service's logistics, some members worried that the policy implications had not been thoroughly explored.
Amazon, however, did ease safety concerns. Before making a drop, the drones will check for obstructions and send a notification to customers if there is no safe delivery space. The crafts also will not fly at night or under severe weather conditions.
San Antonio, along with Waco, is currently one of only two Texas cities to offer Prime Air. College Station was one of the test markets for the service, but the company discontinued those operations in late August.
