SerpApi.Org
Residents packed a town hall meeting Tuesday night to ask questions about Manna's planned drone delivery service coming to Tulsa.
State Rep. Meloyde Blancett and Tulsa City Councilor Laura Bellis hosted the meeting, giving neighbors an opportunity to hear directly from Manna Founder and CEO Bobby Healy about the company's plans for its first Tulsa drone hub near 15th Street and Utica Avenue.
Why Are Residents Concerned?
Many attendees said they are worried about how drone deliveries could affect their neighborhoods, including concerns about wildlife, noise, privacy and air traffic.
Kara Joy McKee said she's concerned about the impact on birds and other wildlife near her home.
"As a mom and as a Tulsan, who's out in my yard all the time, I care about having healthy birds and butterflies. Wildlife, bees. There's an owl nesting in my tree. I'm concerned about what these drones might do."
John Kester, who lives near the proposed site, questioned how the new drones would fit into an area that already sees frequent helicopter traffic from nearby hospitals.
"We got helicopters flying in to Saint John's Hospital, Hillcrest Hospital. And then they're going to have numerous drones flying in that area also. It just gets too congested, Kester said."
How Will The Drone Delivery System Work?
Healy said Tulsa will serve as Manna's U.S. headquarters. The company's first operating base will be near 15th Street and Utica Avenue.
According to Healy, the Cherry Street location will initially operate with just three battery-powered drones that fly about 250 feet above the ground and serve customers within roughly a one-mile radius.
The drones will only deliver to private property, not parks, schools or cemeteries. Healy also said the drones will not operate after 9 p.m. or during high winds.
How Loud Will The Drones Be?
Noise was one of the biggest concerns raised during the meeting.
Healy compared the sound of a drone delivery to familiar household noises, but says it can be subjective.
"If you're sitting in your house and you never get a delivery, you're going to hear a leaf blower for about 20 seconds. If we fly over your house, you're going to hear an air conditioning unit for about 10 seconds," Healy said.
What Does Manna Say About Safety?
Healy said every drone flight is monitored by a licensed remote pilot and regulated by the Federal Aviation Administration.
He also said Manna has never had one of its drones strike a bird and believes the service will benefit local businesses by allowing deliveries within hours instead of days.
The company also said it has not received any state or local incentives to establish its U.S. headquarters in Tulsa.
Are Neighbors Convinced?
Not everyone left the meeting with their concerns eased.
Anne Weil, who lives about a block from the planned drone base, said she wants to experience the noise before deciding how she feels about the project.
"I'd like to hear that they're going to stop flying after a certain time at night. But in terms of what that actual noise impact is going to be, I think I'm going to be hearing it for myself before I can judge," Weil said.
What's Next?
Manna said it plans to hold public flight demonstrations so residents can hear the drones and see how the system operates before service begins.
The company says it already has local businesses signed up to participate in deliveries near the Cherry Street location. It has also applied for permits for five additional drone bases across Tulsa and hopes to eventually expand to between 20 and 30 locations across the city.
