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:

A recent U.S. Air Force demonstration of AI in an F-16 dogfight signals a public endorsement for AI in military aviation, prompting a discussion on its potential integration and acceptance in civilian airliners.
The article differentiates modern "generative AI" from basic automation, explaining its ability to create actions from vast data but also noting limitations like "hallucinations" and the theoretical nature of true Artificial General Intelligence (AGI).
While pilots inherently resist change, AI could collaboratively assist in the cockpit by processing complex data (e.g., weather, fuel, alternates, crew legalities) to aid in critical decision-making and reduce workload.
However, the author argues that AI, in its current form, cannot replicate the human ingenuity and real-time, adaptive problem-solving crucial during unprecedented emergencies, making pilotless aircraft a distant concept and suggesting AI should augment, not replace, human pilots.

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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.