AI Comes to the Cockpit

Three companies are bringing artificial intelligence to general aviation.

Sean Siff

Monday, September 14, 2026 at 08:00 AM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

There are more than a dozen companies, such as Boston-based Merlin, identified as working on products that will use programming performed by AI or will collect information that the technology will process for use in a final software product destined for a cockpit. [Credit: Merlin]

Key Takeaways:

Artificial intelligence (AI) is rapidly integrating into general aviation (GA) cockpits and operations, with many companies actively developing and certifying diverse solutions.
Key AI applications include digitizing and interpreting complex aircraft maintenance records (PlaneDNA) and in-cockpit systems designed to act as a safety pilot, offer assistance, or enable autonomous flight (Merlin Pilot).
AI also enhances flight safety through advanced computer vision systems that detect potential collision hazards beyond traditional traffic detection, augmenting the pilot's awareness and aiding in "see-and-avoid" efforts (Daedalean PilotEye).

See a mistake? Contact us.

In beginning research for this article, it was assumed that artificial intelligence technology was nowhere near ready for general aviation cockpits. Sure, free access to ChatGPT is available to anyone with an internet connection, but how close are companies to actually bringing solutions to the cockpit?

After a cursory look, there are more than a dozen companies identified as working on products that will use programming performed by AI or will collect information that the technology will process for use in a final software product destined for a cockpit. While some of the companies are developing solutions for transport category and military aircraft, there’s much development happening in GA, some of which is already in-market.