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:

Contrary to initial assumptions, artificial intelligence technology is actively being developed and implemented across various aspects of general aviation (GA), with some solutions already in the market.
Companies like PlaneDNA, Merlin Labs, and Daedalean are leveraging AI for diverse applications, including digitizing and analyzing aircraft maintenance logs, providing in-cockpit safety assistance and eventual autonomous flight capabilities, and enhancing visual collision avoidance with camera-based systems.
These AI advancements are geared towards significantly improving GA safety, simplifying operations, and potentially reducing accidents and fatalities by augmenting pilot capabilities and streamlining critical aviation processes.

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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.