FedEx, Alphabet, Uber to fly with US drone program, Amazon's wings clipped

At Memphis International Airport, drones may soon be inspecting planes and delivering airplane parts for FedEx Corp. In Reno, Nevada, they will test airlifting life-saving defibrillators to patients. And customers in Virginia could get goods they ordered from Alphabet Inc.’s flying devices.

A who’s who of technology and aviation companies won U.S. approval Wednesday to push the edge of the envelope in drone flights, from testing people’s tolerance for delivery devices hovering over their rooftops to ensuring farmers’ drones won’t hit crop dusters.

In the most far-reaching test program to date for burgeoning drone commerce, the Department of Transportation announced the selection of 10 state, local and tribal governments -- in partnership with companies that include Intel Corp., Uber Technologies Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. -- as social and scientific test areas.

"The enthusiastic response to our request for applications demonstrated the many innovative technological and operational solutions already on the horizon," Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao said.