PONCHATOULA — Ponchatoula is the first city in Louisiana to have drone delivery from Walmart. 

The drone delivery service has been available since October through a partnership with Walmart and drone logistics company Wing Aviation. 

According to a presentation made to the Ponchatoula City Council by a Wing spokesperson on Monday, the partnership with Walmart has been in place since 2023. The presentation says that the average delivery flight is less than five minutes. 

Wing's presentation assured councilmembers that the drones are certified through the Federal Aviation Administration at the same level as commercial airliners. The company also said that, while cameras are used for deliveries, there is no live feed of images to anyone, including the pilots supervising flights. 

Wing's delivery drones, the company added, operate at a decibel level below that of a delivery truck, with a spokesperson saying they are designed to "blend into neighborhood sounds."

While Ponchatoula is the first Louisiana area with the drone services, Wing lists New Orleans as an area for expansion. Walmart currently offers the service in several cities, including Dallas, Houston, Atlanta and Charlotte.