Amazon Prime Air Launches Drone Delivery in Metro Detroit Area
(Crystal A. Proxmire, Nov. 26, 2025)
Hazel Park and Pontiac, MI – Up in the sky. It’s a bird. It’s a plane. No, if it’s a five and a half foot tall blue and white machine with propellers than it’s probably a drone out making a delivery for Amazon.
Amazon Prime Air is a test program that allows online shoppers within 7.5 miles of the Amazon distribution centers in Hazel Park or Pontiac to order small items to be delivered by drone in one hour or less. The online retail giant hosted an open house at the Hazel Park Recreation Center on Nov. 20, complete with photo ops, coloring books and other swag, and a chance to see a drone up close and ask questions of Amazon representatives.
Service began in Pontiac earlier this month, and has just started in Hazel Park.
The drones can only carry items that are smaller than a shoe box and not too delicate for a ten foot drop. There’s an extra fee for those who opt for the drone service, but the item comes within the hour. They cannot fly in the dark, or in windy or rainy weather. And if there are problems with the delivery the item may still arrive by a driver on the ground.
Prime Air has only been tested in a handful of cities, and locally the delivery areas are limited by proximity to the centers. The drones fly at about 400 feet, descending to 10-12 feet for the delivery. A compartment on the drone opens up and the package slips out. When a customer places an order, they are shown a map of their property with selections for a drop location. For example, dropping in the back yard may be possible for some customers. According to their website some apartment complexes may also have drop points, though not necessarily at the customer’s door. If a customer is ordering something that is eligible for Amazon Air delivery, and is at an eligible property, they will be shown that option during the ordering process.
The drones have gotten mixed reactions from neighbors. Some are excited by the new technology, while others appreciate the convenience. Yet some are also concerned about noise, environmental impact, the fear of malfunctions and crashes, privacy concerns, and potential economic impacts such as lost business for local retailers or decreased home values for those located close to the centers.
Concerned residents spoke at a recent city council meeting, and some attended the in-person event. Among them was Ashley Kelly who told Oakland County Times “my concerns are very wide ranging.” Kelly shared fears that drones could see into people’s back yards, and that cameras may be used to gather data about properties. She worried that the drones might be able to be hacked, or used for spying purposes.
Kelly worried that property values would decline and that the drones would be an annoyance to those trying to enjoy their yards. “We do not want to let them destroy our community, and use us as a test center so they can make billions off our back,” she said. “If anything they should be paying us.”
She also said “I don’t feel safe having 80 lb drones flying over my head so someone can have toothpaste delivered.”
Kelly’s concerns have been shared by others in the community, as well as by people in other cities where drone use has been tested. But Amazon representatives say that the company has been listening and making improvements.
Mike Limburg is with Amazon’s Economic Development Team. He shared that the kickoff in Pontiac has been successful thus far and orders are picking up at a good pace. He also answered questions about the concerns being raised.
He said that cameras on the drone are forward-facing during flight to make sure that the flight path is clear. The cameras face downward on descent “where we’re scanning for people, objects, and pets to ensure that delivery is safe for our customers.”
“Our technology is only being used for safety purposes,” he said. He urged those with concerns to visit the Amazon website for their privacy policy, and assured people that Amazon does not sell data to third parties.
Limburg said that noise had been a challenge in previous test areas. “The new drone is 40% quieter than that previous drone that operated from 2022 to 2024,” he said. “We got feedback about the noise and we took that to heart. I think the 40% reduction in noise is extremely successful in our launch in Arizona.”
When asked if Amazon Air is good for Hazel Park, City Manager Ed Klobucher told Oakland County Times “I don’t know that it’s good or bad for Hazel Park. But its something that is going to happen, so we want to make sure that Amazon is as transparent as possible. They’re here to answer every single question that is asked of them by residents of Hazel Park and surrounding communities.”
While Klobucher and local officials have been listening to residents’ concerns and answering questions, ultimately they are not involved in Amazon Air activities. “The City of Hazel Park does not have any authority to regulate the airspace,” he said. “It’s fully and totally under the jurisdiction of the Federal government and that is where they are obtaining their permission to fly.”
“On a personal level, I live near the facility. I’m not concerned about anything. I hope it’s a successful program,” the City Manager said. “I think it’s exciting. I’m somebody that’s enthusiastic about new technology and they’re very technologically advanced.”
Amazon representative Limburg is also excited about the technology and being part of Amazon Air’s rollout. “A lot of people are using drones these days. It’s not just us, it’s municipalities themselves, police and fire departments. We get to work with others in this space and be part of the future taking shape.”
