This week in drone news, Amazon has apparently been telling the FAA not to investigate drone crashes as they are investigating, a new defense/public safety drone, and a large crop-spraying drone crash in California.

It appears that Prime Air has been avoiding FAA crash investigations by claiming the company has the authority to conduct its own investigations 

At least twice, FAA inspectors have found that Amazon has moved crash evidence and/or inhibited an investigation.

At least 8 Amazon drones crashed last year, one sparking a 20 acre wildfire in Oregon.

Amazon said that regulatory delays could “Totally Disrupt” the goal timeline of launching Prime Air delivery in 2024.

Amazon responded by stating that the company has"has complied with all incident reporting, investigation, and other applicable regulatory requirements," the spokesperson, Kelly Nantel, said. "Over the last seven years, the FAA has never taken an enforcement action against Prime Air, and has awarded us an air carrier certificate to enable commercial deliveries — showing that our comprehensive process has met the FAA's high bar.”

https://www.businessinsider.com/amazon-prime-air-faa-regulators-investigation-drone-crashes-2022-5

A California Start up named “Realtime Robotics” has released a portable heavy lift drone that they say beats competitors in terms of situational awareness for first responders.

The Hera is a backpack-sized drone with a payload capacity of 30lbs and can be outfitted with up to 4 EO/IR cameras. 

The aircraft can be tethered or untethered with a flight time of 46minutes with a 5lb payload.

Realtime Robotics also says the Hera is NDAA compliant.

Guessed to be around $25k 

https://rtrobotics.com/

A large crop splaying aircraft crashed in Winters, CA

While news sources say the aircraft had a wing span of 10 feet, an NTSB report states the aircraft make/model, suggesting a wing span of 38 feet, and a MGTOW of 1320lbs.

The drone, a Pyka Pelican 7, crashed into a field, and was involved in a post-crash fire.

There were no injuries. 

NTSB Accident # WPR22LA183

https://www.wintersexpress.com/local-news/unmanned-aircraft-crashes-in-ag-field