Have you ever wondered who or what is actually in control of the aircraft you are on? Many people assume that pilots manually fly the plane at every moment. But the reality is quite different. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT), auto-flight systems now control most commercial flights; the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) estimates that autopilot, which handles the flight automatically, accounts for approximately 90 percent of total flight time. Now, AI is beginning to take this even further. This is why the ‘aviation AI system engineer’ will soon become essential. These engineers won’t just design systems; they will ensure our safety by constantly monitoring and managing the AI in the sky.
In fact, this shift in the aviation workforce, caused by technological advancement, is not a sudden explosion but a gradual evolution. The main reason is that the aviation industry has already been integrating automated systems for decades. A representative example of these is autopilot, which was mentioned earlier. An autopilot system helps pilots operate an aircraft without manually handling the control yoke. In long-distance flights, this Autopilot system plays an important role in relieving pilot fatigue. Currently, it operates only under certain conditions, such as a proper set altitude and route. Pilots simply input flight data into a computer to prepare the flight.
But it wasn’t always this quiet. Before autopilot was invented, pilots couldn’t fly without a flight engineer. They were taking care of the mechanics in the aircraft. While pilots gripped the controls, these engineers focused on the machine. They inspected engine conditions, fuel consumption, and mechanical issues in real time. Without them, the plane simply wouldn’t stay in the air. Eventually, automated systems took over the flight engineers’ job. It is hard to see this job on an aircraft today. However, technological advancement does not eliminate jobs alone. It creates new jobs at the same time. Cutting-edge technologies are surpassing the capabilities of standard autopilot systems. For instance, Airbus, the world’s leading aircraft manufacturer based in Europe, has introduced a technology that enables AI to recognize runways using cameras and perform takeoff and landing procedures.
This technology is called Autonomous Taxi, Takeoff and Landing (ATTOL). It attracts considerable attention because it can operate safely even in low-visibility conditions. In addition, AI systems that can determine optimal routes in emergency situations are already being developed. As the technology continues to advance, a new profession is emerging as a key part of the industry. That profession is the aviation AI system engineer. In a world where AI flies the plane, these experts will become indispensable for ensuring every flight is safe and reliable.
First of all, the work of an aviation AI system engineer is divided into two primary roles. First, they act as architects of the flight. Before the plane even leaves the ground, they configure systems for use during flights by analyzing weather and aircraft conditions, as well as fuel efficiency. They also hold a meeting with the crew about the selected systems when preparing for the flight. You can think of them as a configuration expert. This process requires more than just technical skill; it demands a deep ability to analyze complex data efficiently. In this role, there is no room for error. Even a simple configuration error can put the entire aircraft in danger, which is why this job requires absolute precision and a heavy sense of responsibility.
Their second main task takes place during the flight. They should check whether the AI has any technical glitches or hidden biases. This is crucial because AI is not perfect. AI tends to generate answers that rely solely on pre-trained data. When faced with extreme weather conditions it has never encountered before, AI can hallucinate. These cause the system to form false beliefs, which lead to erratic and dangerous decisions. This chain of errors proves that AI cannot be left alone in the sky. Moreover, except for pre-configured settings, when AI attempts to improve decisions, the engineer ultimately plays a role in granting final approval.
AI makes decisions wholly based on past data and probabilities. Thus, this decision is not always the same as human ethical standards. For example, AI may make decisions that prioritize certain efficiency under specific conditions. In a sudden crash, if the predicted impact point is a large city with more people on the ground than on board, the system may decide to sacrifice the passengers. Hence, tight control should be observed during flight since only human beings can arrive at the right decision both morally and technologically. In particular, the right to manage the aircraft should be revoked as soon as there is any indication of hacking or hijacking, since the safety of passengers is more significant. Finally, this critical work guarantees safe and dependable functioning of the AI-driven aviation systems under the uninterrupted human control.
At this point, you might wonder ‘Is this profession truly necessary? Isn’t AI better than humans because it can judge more accurately at rapid speeds? By developing technology, does this role suddenly disappear, just like the flight engineers of the past?’ In fact, aircraft using autopilot currently perform simpler mechanical tasks, but unexpected accidents may occur. The crash of Air France Flight 447 is a good example. The airspeed system that measures speed froze, and the autopilot abruptly disconnected. This made the pilots confused because of the inconsistent data, resulting in a serious accident. This is an illustration of how overdependence on automated systems can result in a tragic event. In addition, in the case of Turkish Airlines Flight 1951, the autopilot received incorrect -8 feet of data from a malfunctioning radio altimeter, causing the system to misjudge the situation as a landing condition and resulting in a serious accident. This case serves as an important lesson, showing that even a single piece of incorrect data can distort the judgment of an entire system. To avoid such accidents due to system failures, the aircraft should have engineers and programmers on board. In contrast to the simple data verification of flight engineers in the past, these professionals serve as the last ethical filter, as the decisions of AI are made in line with human safety and ethical principles.
Expanding on this thought, one will wonder, why not just leave everything to pilots? But what about the remote operation of the system on the ground? Pilots are in the air with intuition, judgment, and a lot of experience on the flight. Conversely, engineers in the aviation AI systems specialize in system engineering and design. They have to major in computer science or AI-related fields and develop strong technical skills through education and certification. Therefore, this profession is based on engineering and computational expertise rather than simply entering preset values by following manuals. In this sense, the two roles are not in competition but complement each other. Pilots determine the overall direction of flight using human judgment and experience, while aviation AI system engineers ensure safe and accurate system performance.
It may seem that remote control from ground stations is a possible alternative. But it has clear practical limitations. In aviation, on-site awareness is extremely important for safety. A fraction of a second can mean the difference between an accident and it is necessary to act quickly to prevent it. Furthermore, not every vital information is remotely capture-able. As an illustration, minor but detectable vibrations in aircraft, smoldering odors, or unexpected actions of passengers cannot be comprehensively examined by AI systems. It is due to this disconnect between data and real-world situations that human engineers are required to understand physical situations directly. Therefore, it is not enough to be driven by remote monitoring only, and the presence of professionals on board to monitor AI systems is necessary.
In conclusion, I believe that technological advancement does not simply replace human jobs. Instead, it is a process that elevates human roles to a higher level. In the past, flight engineers were replaced by automated systems, and now aviation AI system engineers are taking on a central role by designing and controlling the AI at the core of these systems. They are becoming an important key player in the aviation field. In addition, the aviation industry is likely to evolve toward urban air mobility, where thousands of aircraft operate in the sky. Lastly, the need to have professionals control AI-based systems will keep increasing. Though AI may be able to work quickly, it is a human responsibility to determine whether AI outcomes qualify to be in human life and ethics. Aviation is no longer a field of experience and intuition, but a data-driven/complex system field of engineering. With the fast development of technology, the human factor is still very essential in the interpretation, control, and perception of these systems. It is not about losing jobs, but about those positions we need to create in order to create a safer future. On these grounds, I believe that the role of aviation AI system engineers will be a significant role in the future.
By: Yehyun Han
Write and Win: Participate in Creative writing Contest & International Essay Contest and win fabulous prizes.
About the Author
