The impact of artificial intelligence (AI) on the regional aviation industry took centre stage at the ERA Regional Conference in Copenhagen this week during a panel discussion titled “Digitalisation and AI – the future of aviation”.
Moderated by Nick Rhodes, ERA’s Head of Operations, Safety and Infrastructure, the session brought together key industry leaders to explore the transformative potential and inherent challenges of integrating Artificial Intelligence (AI) into the aviation sector.
The panel featured Jean Felon, Head of the Operations Control Center at Luxair, Alain Corbel, Deputy Safety and Risk Management Director at HOP!, Martin Lidgard, CEO and founder of Web Manuals, Vlad Marin, Marketing and Sales Engineering Manager at Airbus, and Chris Williams, Partner at the global law firm Clyde & Co specialising in technology and intellectual property.
The discussion highlighted the significant opportunities AI presents for revolutionising various aspects of aviation. Felon emphasised AI’s ability to analyse vast datasets for enhanced safety and risk mitigation. Lidgard echoed this sentiment, pointing to AI’s potential in optimising flight scheduling, predictive maintenance, and overall operational efficiency.
Corbel highlighted the benefits of AI in automating the monitoring of complex regulations, particularly for regional airlines and Marin from Airbus discussed AI’s role in optimising fuel consumption and improving airspace management, contributing to sustainability goals.
However, the panelists also addressed the considerable challenges that need to be overcome. Key concerns included the complexities of managing and ensuring the accuracy of the large datasets required for AI implementation.
Williams from Clyde & Co. underscored the urgent need for existing regulations to adapt to AI-driven systems, particularly concerning liability issues. Ethical considerations, system reliability, the potential for bias in AI decision-making, and cybersecurity vulnerabilities were also identified as significant hurdles.
Despite these challenges, the overall tone of the discussion remained optimistic about AI’s potential to reshape the aviation landscape.
Rhodes concluded by challenging the industry to find a safe and efficient way to evaluate and adopt AI technologies.
From left: Nick Rhodes, Alain Corbel, Jean Felon, Martin Lidgard, Vlad Marin and Chris Williams.
