Zipline Seeks FAA Approval for Massive Arizona Drone Network
The FAA has published an environmental review outlining the potential for large-scale drone delivery systems in Phoenix and Tucson. Residents can provide public feedback on these plans through the end of December.
Zipline, a drone delivery provider, is asking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to approve a service capable of handling up to 130,000 packages daily in two Arizona metro regions. This approval would permit continuous operations for 24 hours each day, seven days a week, and even on holidays.
Details of this proposal were included in a draft environmental assessment released by the FAA in November. The agency is currently assessing the environmental consequences of extending Zipline’s commercial drone network into Phoenix and Tucson. These numbers reflect peak capacity limits rather than projected daily volumes. Real-world activity levels will fluctuate based on weather, customer demand, and other operational variables.
A Large-Scale Drone Delivery Network
If approved, Zipline could install up to 65 charging stations and 1,300 package dropboxes in each city. Each charging station would be capable of supporting up to 1,000 deliveries daily.
The proposed infrastructure across Phoenix and Tucson would feature:
130 charging locations
2,600 package dropboxes
A maximum capacity of 130,000 deliveries per day
Operations running for 24 hours, covering weekends and holidays
The FAA document also notes a potential for up to 390,000 individual flight segments, or transits, each day across both regions. Every single delivery requires three distinct flight segments: the trip from a charging station to a pickup point, the flight to the customer, and the return journey to a charging station.
Zipline intends to site its charging and pickup infrastructure at commercial properties such as retail stores, warehouses, and partner facilities. The company must ensure these locations align with local zoning laws and land use regulations.
Round-the-Clock Operations and Environmental Review
While Zipline is requesting permission to operate around the clock, the company anticipates that the majority of deliveries will happen during daytime and evening hours.
The FAA assessment indicates that roughly 95% of flights would happen between 7 a.m. and 10 p.m. The remaining 5% of flights would occur between 10 p.m. and 7 a.m., varying according to demand.
Zipline plans to deploy its Platform 2 aircraft for these deliveries. These aircraft have a maximum takeoff weight of about 63 pounds and can transport packages weighing up to eight pounds.
The environmental assessment looks at potential impacts on nearby communities, covering noise, wildlife, land use, and visual changes. As drone delivery firms move into residential zones, these concerns are gaining significance. For instance, Amazon Prime Air’s proposed operations in Westborough, Massachusetts, have encountered community pushback and scrutiny regarding local zoning and environmental oversight.
The Arizona proposal highlights the potential scale of future commercial drone delivery networks. It also prompts questions about how communities will assess the impact of frequent drone flights, especially at night.
FAA Seeks Public Comment
Zipline already possesses an FAA Part 135 air carrier certificate and an exemption for certain beyond visual line of sight (BVLOS) operations. Nevertheless, the company must obtain amendments to its FAA operating specifications and other necessary approvals before launching the Arizona service.
This draft environmental assessment is a required component of the review process under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA). The FAA must evaluate potential environmental effects before making a decision on the proposed expansion.
The agency is currently accepting public comments on the assessment. Published FAA materials show conflicting deadlines: the draft assessment states December 7, 2026, whereas the agency’s environmental review webpage lists December 9.
Comments may be submitted to [email protected], with "Zipline Arizona Draft EA" in the subject line.