FAA Cracks Down on Beer Delivery Drone

The Federal Aviation Administration has ruled that a beer delivery drone service of Lakemaid Beer to ice fishermen cannot go forward. Lakemaid, brewed in Stevens Point, Wisconsin, had hoped to use drones to deliver its beer from bait shops to anglers in ice shacks. But the government says the brewer’s next test — which Lakemaid managing partner Jack Supple says was tentatively set for Minnesota’s Lake Mille Lacs and the Twin Pines resort — cannot proceed.

“We were a little surprised at the FAA interest in this since we thought we were operating under the 400-foot limit,” Supple told NPR via email. He adds that the beer-makers “figured a vast frozen lake was a lot safer place than [what] Amazon was showing on 60 Minutes.”

FAA rules don’t currently allow drones to be used for commercial delivery. The agency has scheduled reviews of its rules on drones.

The FAA told Lakemaid that its plan broke at least four regulations, ranging from the operator’s rating to the use of airspace. The FAA told Lakemaid that it “recognizes that people and companies other than modelers might be flying UAS with the mistaken understanding” that their actions are legal. But the rules and guidelines used in such cases apply only to people flying model airplanes, the FAA added.