A memorandum of understanding aims to keep County pilots and Amazon's drones safe in the skies
The future of at-home delivery is here in Hillsborough County. Amazon has begun making deliveries using drones in Ruskin. However, behind the scenes, key discussions with County leaders are taking place to ensure safety in the skies. That includes Hillsborough's Mosquito Management team, which relies on the use of low-flying helicopters to protect public health.
What's at stake?
The most efficient way to treat large, otherwise inaccessible coastal locations near densely populated areas is through the use of County-owned helicopters operated by highly trained pilots. The helicopters apply an environmentally safe and EPA-registered larvicide, called BTI. The substance is a naturally occurring bacterium that is safe for humans but will terminate mosquito larvae.
During a mosquito management operation, County pilots will fly low to effectively treat coastal areas. In many instances, the helicopters will drop to just a few feet off the ground, conducting 180-degree turns repeatedly to treat an area. Amazon's autonomous drones typically cruise at altitudes between 100 and 400 feet above the ground and will descend to approximately 10 to 13 feet to release packages.
These drones weigh roughly 80 pounds and are designed to carry packages weighing five pounds or less. Amazon drones move at approximately 70 miles per hour, far too fast for a helicopter pilot to see during a mosquito operation. County officials say it's crucial to have a plan in place to keep Hillsborough's helicopter pilots safe when operating near Amazon's distribution center in Ruskin.
Keeping the skies safe
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) considers airspace under 500 feet as "largely uninhabited" with a few exceptions. Hillsborough's mosquito management helicopters are among those exceptions as they are uniquely capable of safely operating in low-level airspace while in close proximity to populated areas. Current regulations allow autonomous package delivery drones to operate in the same low-altitude environment used by mosquito management. For this reason, Hillsborough County and Amazon are working together to create their own safety plan with communication at the center of it all.
Memorandum of understanding
Both parties have drafted a memorandum of understanding to serve as guidelines aimed at mitigating the risk of collision between Amazon's delivery drones and the County's mosquito helicopters. County officials say the safety guidelines could set the stage for drone deliveries nationwide. As part of the understanding, Hillsborough County will notify Amazon once there is a larvae treatment mission within the company's drone delivery area of operations, which spans approximately a six-mile radius of the fulfillment center. Hillsborough pilots will communicate the location, the approximate time, and what's being done. In return, Amazon will halt all drone deliveries within 1,500 feet of the County's helicopter operation. The buffer zone will allow County pilots to safely conduct maneuvers such as repeated turns. When not conducting a mosquito operation, Hillsborough County pilots have agreed to fly above 500 feet when near or around Amazon's distribution zone.
The memorandum of understanding serves as a key agreement between Hillsborough County and Amazon to ensure safe skies under 500 feet. Hillsborough pilots understand the complexity of the changing environment surrounding package delivery and are proactively engaging in risk management. Safety remains at the forefront of Amazon's drone delivery operation as it looks to expand the service across the nation.
Hillsborough's Mosquito Management Program
The primary mission of Mosquito Management Services (MMS) is to protect residents by monitoring mosquito-borne illnesses and controlling pests through biological methods, trapping, the elimination of breeding sites (areas of standing, stagnant water), and destruction of larvae. If adult mosquito populations pose a significant public nuisance, the County may use insecticides that target adult mosquitoes in and around areas that show an increase in the insect's population.
Officials say it's a daily battle to take back neighborhoods from the more than 40 species of mosquitoes that breed in Hillsborough County. Helicopter operations play a crucial role in the County's mission to protect residents from mosquito-borne illnesses. Hillsborough residents can check out the Mosquito Spraying Map for information on both planned and recently completed treatments.
Hillsborough residents can also request a free on-site inspection from Mosquito Management Services unit to identify potential mosquito breeding sites. Learn more about the County's efforts to control the mosquito population, including how to report mosquito issues on a property or request a neighborhood spraying.