Amazon hosted a community meet-and-greet Monday night at the Waco Convention Center to introduce residents to the company’s drone delivery team and technology.
The company’s latest model, the MK30, will soon begin delivering packages in Waco. The autonomous drone, which spans about five feet, can carry packages under five pounds and promises delivery in less than an hour for customers who opt in.
Prime members will pay a $5 fee for drone deliveries. Non-members will pay $10.
“Think about all the times that you’ve forgotten your charger,” said Christina Carter, Amazon’s drone operations manager for Texas. “We’ll have people get phone chargers. My dog sometimes needs a toy when I travel, so I order him treats and toys.”
Carter said there is no official launch date yet for drone deliveries in Waco, but she’s hopeful it will begin soon. In the meantime, she’s focused on community engagement.
“I get to show people the drone for the first time, and their eyes light up,” Carter said. “They’re like, ‘Wow, this is so amazing.’”
The MK30 drone replaces earlier models like those used in College Station, where Amazon’s Prime Air delivery program began in 2022. That program faced challenges early on, including noise complaints from residents.
One described the drones as sounding like a “flying chainsaw.”
Carter said she isn’t concerned about noise in Waco.
“We’ve done multiple studies with noise at our Phoenix site, and I’m not concerned with that personally,” she said.
According to Amazon, the new drones have shown a 40% reduction in sound compared to older models. That, it says, produces sound levels comparable to a household vacuum or washing machine.
The program will bring an estimated 30 new jobs to Waco. Carter said that means more jobs for fellow drone enthusiasts.
“A lot of people—drones are a hobby for them,” she said. “So when they come to work, it’s a hobby. It’s a passion.”
