Noise pollution may be a reason drone delivery _shouldn't_ happen, but don't confuse that with an actual practical obstacle. In the US, at least, the airspace (including drones) is regulated at a federal level by the FAA, and their mandate doesn't really include residential noise levels. For example, I've never seen noise levels discussed when it comes to private aviation, even though small planes can _definitely_ be loud enough to affect quality of life (they don't even have mufflers...) Drone regulations seem to be following a similar trajectory, with categories and rules based on mass and prop guards, and no formal measurements of perceptual noise at all.

For stationary noise concerns like a highway being built, it's possible for local communities to rally and be heard, but it's entirely possible that drones will be regulated purely on safety grounds with minimal conversation about noise levels.

This is the point where I should end with a call to action, but I'm honestly not sure what the path is to resolving this sort of structural blindness. If anyone with experience working in government or advocacy wants to chime in, I'd be curious to hear.