Amazon approved to fly experimental drones

Amazon is one step closer to instant delivery.

The online retailer received FAA approval Thursday to fly experimental drones over rural Washington State. Amazon (AMZN) is testing drones for "Prime Air," a system that will deliver packages in 30 minutes or less.

Yahoo Finance Senior Columnist Michael Santoli doesn't expect this experiment to boost Amazon's bottom line.

“They're going to try everything to get things to your doorstep. I think it's getting a lot more attention than its import to Amazon's business,” he says. “I doubt it’s going to be a big swing factor for the business.”

As drone use increases, so does controversy surrounding the unmanned flying objects. Yahoo Finance Editor- in-Chief Andy Serwer notes that there are still legal kinks that need to be worked out.

"At some point something is going to happen that's crazy. I got a query the other day, an email from a guy wondering what his rights were to shoot down a drone that was in his yard, his 'personal airspace' as he called it,” he says. “There are a lot of crazy people in America and when these drones start flying around who knows.”

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Yahoo Columnist Rick Newman adds that there are potential downsides to drone delivery systems.

“What happens when other delivery services start flying their own drones? Who's going to control all that traffic?” he says.

Overall, Newman believes that Amazon is far ahead of the competition.

"I think this is a great idea for Amazon … even if it doesn't go anywhere,” he says. “You still have most of the retailers on the internet still can't even get you a package within two days. Amazon is basically saying ‘We mastered that package delivery, and we're working on getting it to you the same day and maybe within an hour.’ I see this mostly as a marketing effort… I'll be happy to have a drone deliver some toothpaste someday.”