Replacing Airline Pilots With AI

Traditional cockpits are becoming transformational.

Friday, August 23, 2024 at 09:30 AM ET

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Based on the current status of AI technology, it would seem that a pilotless aircraft is not even in the distant future. [Adobe Stock]

Key Takeaways:

The article explores the increasing use of AI in military aviation, such as the AI-controlled F-16 dogfight, and questions its viability and implications for civilian airliners, particularly regarding pilot acceptance, crew reduction, and the feasibility of pilotless aircraft.
It differentiates modern "generative AI" from older automation, noting its capacity for predictive analysis and collaborative decision support in complex scenarios, but also highlighting its current limitations and risks, like generating "hallucinations" or misinformation.
The author, a pilot, expresses skepticism about AI replacing human judgment in unforeseen critical situations, concluding that while AI could serve as a valuable collaborative tool to reduce pilot workload, current technology makes pilotless aircraft or a reduction to single-pilot operations unfeasible.

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On May 2 at Edwards Air Force Base in California, U.S. Air Force Secretary Frank Kendall climbed aboard an F-16 test bed dubbed VISTA (Variable In-Flight Simulator Test Aircraft) that was retrofitted with an artificial intelligence platform. Secretary Kendall and a back-seat test pilot went along for the ride without touching the controls while another human-controlled F-16 engaged VISTA in a mock dogfight.

Reading between the lines of media reports, it would appear that the demonstration was a draw between the two fighters. I applaud Kendall for placing himself in harm’s way, but the grandstanding performance served a purpose. It was very much a public endorsement of AI for airborne warfare.

Les Abend

Les Abend is a retired, 34-year veteran of American Airlines, attempting to readjust his passion for flying airplanes in the lower flight levels—without the assistance of a copilot.