During a December 1, “60 Minutes” interview with Charlie Rose, Amazon.com CEO Jeff Bezos announced that his company hopes to deliver small packages via unmanned drones within five years. The service would be called “Amazon Prime Air,” and would have the small aircraft flying from an Amazon distribution center to one’s home to deliver packages of no more than five pounds in 30 minutes. The idea could very well revolutionize the American economy, and with that the use of drone technology for years to come.

Bezos’ bold idea is a breath of fresh air and an indication of hope that drone technology can be used for economic innovation and not solely for death and destruction as it is known for today. That being said, the federal government is not staying away from Amazon’s idea. According to Fox News, Senator Jay Rockefeller (D-WV), chairman of the Senate Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, confirmed a hearing would be held in 2014 to ensure the program meets certain regulations. This is a crucial time, because of all the possible limitations, the legal issues regarding drones may be the biggest hurdle. Overcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) rules and regulations that haven’t even been established yet could mean years until “Prime Air” is implemented.

Many questions still need to be answered. For starters; what is the timetable for implementation? It would be a bit of a tease to announce the idea but wait to implement it. Furthermore, what is the likelihood that the program succeeds? Many technology experts have expressed doubts towards Bezos’ plan. In an interview with CNN Bill Gates said he likes the idea, but has concerns that it may be “overly optimistic.” However, even if the experiment fails and Amazon is not able to implement this idea, it could open the door to other companies making innovations in drone technology.Nobis Jackets