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Delivery by drone in 30 minutes? Amazon says it’s coming

An Harfang Male UAS drone is displayed in front the Airbus A380 of Qatar Airways at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Some 300,000 aviation professionals and spectators are expected at this week’s Paris Air Show, coming from around the world to make business deals and see dramatic displays of aeronautic prowess and the latest air and space technology. (AP Photo/Francois Mori) An Harfang Male UAS drone is displayed in front the Airbus A380 of Qatar Airways at the Paris Air Show, in Le Bourget airport, north of Paris, Wednesday, June 17, 2015. Some 300,000 aviation professionals and spectators are expected at this week’s Paris Air Show, coming from around the world to make business deals and see dramatic displays of aeronautic prowess and the latest air and space technology. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

By Associated Press June 17, 2015 1 min read

WASHINGTON (AP) – Online retail giant Amazon says it is developing the technology to use drones to deliver packages in 30 minutes or less, a broad expansion of unmanned flight that is raising concerns about safety, security and privacy.

Using commercial drones to quickly deliver packages is probably years away. But when government regulations catch up with emerging technologies, Amazon says it could revolutionize the way people shop for items they need quickly.

Amazon vice president Paul Misener told a House committee Wednesday the federal government needs to speed up rules that regulate the use of commercial drones.

The Federal Aviation Administration proposed rules in February that would severely restrict their use. FAA Deputy Administrator Michael Whitaker said more research is needed before the government allows widespread use of commercial drones.