Stanford-developed digital assistant scans emergency procedures in seconds, aims to reduce pilot errors that cause most aviation accidents.
Human error accounts for the majority of aviation mishaps, according to accident databases, a reality that has prompted the U.S. Air Force to test an artificial intelligence system capable of diagnosing in-flight emergencies faster than pilots can flip through paper manuals.
Twenty-four military test pilots recently completed flight trials aboard a Learjet 25 business jet, evaluating whether an iPad-based AI assistant could improve their decision making during ambiguous system failures. The software, developed by Stanford University’s Intelligent Systems Laboratory, delivered emergency guidance within seconds by scanning technical checklists and procedures that typically require minutes of manual searching.
“If we can get the right information to the pilot as quickly as possible, we can significantly improve safety,” said Mykel Kochenderfer, a Stanford aeronautics professor leading the research. “Pilots train intensely for emergencies, but accident databases show that many mishaps stem from human error.”
The Air Force Test Pilot School partnered with the California university to assess how the digital copilot affects workload management and an aviator’s ability to correctly respond to flight anomalies. Researchers conducted parallel evaluations using a ground-based flight simulator for scenarios considered too dangerous for actual testing, including cascading equipment failures.
Results remain under analysis, with Stanford planning an academic paper detailing the trials. The data will guide refinements to the cockpit assistant and inform broader applications of AI in safety-critical environments, Kochenderfer said.
Marc Schlichting, a Stanford doctoral candidate working on the project, explained the technology’s core function as an advanced digital search system. During emergencies, pilots normally spend critical minutes locating relevant procedures in manuals, but the AI assistant eliminates that delay by instantly retrieving applicable guidance.
Major John Alora, director of operations at the Department of the Air Force-Stanford AI Studio, said the technology could extend well beyond military applications.
“What’s really exciting about this technology is that it has applications for both long-duration military missions and enhancing safety and workload management in commercial aviation,” Alora said.
The Air Force Test Center first disclosed details of the collaboration through the Stanford Report in January. The project addresses cognitive stress during periods of intense mental activity, particularly when aviators must diagnose unknown problems while managing other flight duties.
Pentagon funding for cockpit automation extends to multiple private contractors developing similar workload-reduction systems. Boston-based Merlin Labs has begun aerial testing of autonomy solutions for the Boeing KC-135 tanker and Lockheed Martin MC-130J transport aircraft, aiming to assist pilots with complex flight operations.
U.S. Special Operations Command contracted Merlin to demonstrate reduced crew requirements aboard the MC-130J. The company also joined Northrop Grumman’s Beacon autonomous flight initiative.
Reliable Robotics secured a $17.4 million Air Force contract in August 2025 to test its Reliable Autonomy System aboard a Cessna 208B Caravan. The system automates all flight phases and underwent demonstration exercises for military officials in 2024. Additional firms, including Xwing, are advancing autopilot technologies under Air Force sponsorship.
Kochenderfer said the Stanford project will ultimately “make flying safer for everyone” as AI tools mature for aviation use.
Key Takeaways
- Military test pilots evaluated an iPad-based AI assistant during Learjet 25 flights to measure its effectiveness in reducing cockpit workload and improving emergency response times.
- The digital copilot scans technical manuals and emergency procedures in seconds, addressing human error as the leading cause of aviation accidents according to military databases.
- Pentagon officials project the technology will transition from military to commercial aviation, with applications for both combat missions and passenger airline operations.
- The Air Force has invested $17.4 million in automation contracts with private companies including Reliable Robotics and Merlin Labs to develop autonomous flight systems for military aircraft.
