Page 8 - Spring2023
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attitude indicator Spring 2023
THINK SAFE ACT SAFE BE SAFE AI & FLIGHT SAFETY IN THE FUTURE
he aviation industry is one of the most complex pilots, improving their skills and reducing the risk of
and highly regulated industries in the world. accidents caused by pilot error.
Safety is of utmost importance in the aviation
industry, and advancements in technology have One of the most promising applications of AI in flight
made it possible to improve flight safety. One of the safety is in the development of autonomous aircraft.
most significant technological advancements that have Autonomous aircraft are aircraft that can operate
impacted flight safety is artificial intelligence (AI). In this without a human pilot on board. While fully autono-
article, we will explore the impact of AI on flight safety mous aircraft are still in development, AI is already
in the future. being used to improve the safety of partially autono-
mous aircraft, such as drones.
AI is a powerful tool that can analyze data and make
predictions based on that data. In the aviation Drones are being used in a wide range of applications,
industry, AI is being used to improve flight safety by from package delivery to inspection of infrastructure
analyzing data from various sources, including flight such as bridges and power lines. Drones can operate
data recorders, weather reports, and pilot in environments that are too dangerous or difficult for
reports. This data is then used to identify human pilots, such as during search and
potential safety risks and make rescue operations or in hazardous
predictions about future risks. weather conditions. However, operat-
With the help of AI, airlines can ing drones can be challenging, and
take proactive measures to accidents can occur if the drone
mitigate potential risks and is not operated correctly. AI is
prevent accidents. being used to improve the
safety of drone operations by
One area where AI has already enabling drones to detect and
made a significant impact on avoid obstacles and other
flight safety is in aircraft aircraft. Additionally, AI
maintenance. AI algorithms can analyze algorithms can analyze data
data from sensors on the aircraft and predict from the drone's sensors to
when maintenance is required. This predictive predict potential safety issues,
maintenance approach can help airlines reduce the such as battery life or adverse
number of unscheduled maintenance events, which weather conditions. This information
can lead to delays and cancellations. Additionally, by can be used to make informed decisions
predicting maintenance needs before a part fails, about when and where to fly the drone,
airlines can prevent potential safety issues and reduce reducing the risk of accidents.
the risk of accidents caused by equipment failure.
While AI has the potential to improve flight safety,
Another area where AI is being used to improve flight there are also concerns about the use of AI in the avia-
safety is in air traffic control. AI algorithms can tion industry. One concern is that reliance on AI could
analyze data from various sources, including weather lead to complacency among pilots and air traffic con-
reports, radar data, and flight schedules, to optimize trollers. If pilots and air traffic controllers rely too
the routing of aircraft. By optimizing the routing of heavily on AI, they may not be as vigilant in identifying
aircraft, air traffic controllers can reduce the risk of potential safety risks.
collisions and minimize delays. Additionally, AI
algorithms can predict potential safety issues, such as Additionally, there are concerns about the potential
severe weather conditions or congestion, and provide for AI to be hacked or manipulated. If AI systems are
air traffic controllers with the information they need compromised, they could provide incorrect informa-
to make informed decisions. tion to pilots and air traffic controllers, leading to acci-
dents. Another concern is the potential for AI to be
AI is also being used to improve pilot training. AI biased. If AI algorithms are trained on biased data,
algorithms can analyze data from flight simulators they could make decisions that discriminate against
and real-world flights to identify areas where pilots certain groups of people. This could lead to unequal
need additional training. This data can then be used to access to air travel.
develop customized training programs for individual
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