LONDON, Aug 15 (Reuters) - Britain's aviation regulator

has selected six projects, including one by e-commerce giant

Amazon ( AMZN ), to test the use of drones in deliveries,

inspection of infrastructure and emergency services, it said on

Thursday.

The UK's Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) had said earlier

this year that it wanted to permit more drone flying for such

uses.

Currently drone users in Britain are only permitted to fly

beyond the visual line of sight as part of trials with strict

restrictions.

As part of the trials announced by the CAA, selected

projects would be able to fly their drones at distances beyond

the flyer's ability to see them, using advanced technologies for

navigation, control and to detect other aircraft.

The projects include Amazon's ( AMZN ) drone delivery service, called

Prime Air, Airspection to carry out inspections of offshore

windfarms and Project Lifeline, which aims to deliver medical

supplies.

CAA said the trial would help the regulator's ongoing

efforts to develop policy and regulations so drone flights can

be "fully integrated" with other airspace users.

"These innovative trials mark a significant step forward in

integrating drones safely into UK airspace," said CAA director

Sophie O'Sullivan. "Our goal is to make drone operations beyond

visual line of sight a safe and everyday reality."

Amazon ( AMZN ) said in October last year it was planning to begin

delivering packages through drones in Britain, Italy and a third

location in the United States.