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 technology is rapidly being integrated into general aviation, with many companies actively developing solutions for cockpits and aircraft management, and the FAA itself anticipating AI implementation in air traffic control by 2028.
Notable innovations include PlaneDNA, which uses AI to digitize and interpret handwritten aircraft logbooks for easier maintenance tracking and buyer insights.
Merlin Pilot is developing AI-powered software to act as a safety pilot, offering in-flight assistance or eventually enabling fully autonomous flights, while Daedalean PilotEye uses camera-based AI for enhanced "see-and-avoid" collision detection.
These AI-driven tools collectively aim to significantly improve general aviation safety by augmenting pilot capabilities and streamlining aircraft operations, with their adoption expected to be gradual.

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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.