Merlin Labs, an innovator in autonomous aviation technology, is creating an aviator powered by artificial intelligence (AI) to solve the impending pilot shortage.

According to CEO Matt George, airline pilot shortages will total 13,300 by 2032. To counter this challenge, per Fox News, Merlin Labs aims to replace one human pilot in cargo plane cockpits with its AI-driven software while optimizing the remaining pilots' tasks. George underscores the safety enhancements achieved by combining traditional aviation technology with AI for specific functions, allowing human pilots to focus on broader mission objectives.

In a recent development, Merlin Labs conducted tests on the Air Force's KC-135 Stratotanker, a critical milestone toward certifying its AI pilot for civil applications. This advancement marks a pivotal step toward market implementation while maintaining a delicate balance between autonomy and human involvement in future aviation operations.

Merlin Labs Receive New Zealand Certification

Last month, Merlin Labs obtained a Part 135 Air Operators Certificate from the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAA). This certification enables the company to perform essential data collection flights on designated regional freight routes.

Once Merlin Pilot's product certification is complete, the company will leverage its dedicated test facility in Kerikeri for current and future certified products. Per the firm's media release, achieving the State of Involvement (SOI) 1 milestone with the CAA in May 2023 further positions Merlin Labs for certification and commercial operation.

Matt George emphasizes the significance of the Part 135 certification, stating, "Achieving an organizational Part 135 certification gives us the opportunity to work with a forward-thinking regulator as well as leverage New Zealand as a sandbox for our current and future products. This milestone enables us to continue progressing our technical maturity, ultimately validating the safety and operational effectiveness of the Merlin Pilot for Part 23 certification and beyond."

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Merlin Labs' multidimensional approach to the pilot shortage, AI technology, and regulatory certifications shows its dedication to autonomous aircraft.

MIT Ph.Ds Developing Robot Helicopters Powerful Than Drones

Meanwhile, another innovative firm is changing the game with helicopters. Rotor Technologies, led by MIT Ph.Ds, is making helicopters autonomous, transforming aviation safety.

Rotor Technologies, created in 2021 by MIT graduate Hector Xu, retrofits helicopters with sensors and software to eliminate human pilots from high-risk tasks, including crop dusting and medical evacuations, as reported by TechTimes.

Rotor's autonomous helicopters exceed battery-powered drones in speed, endurance, and payload. Rotor accelerates the commercialization process by retrofitting reliable helicopter models with decades of proven performance, marking a substantial leap forward in aviation safety and efficiency.

Hector Xu's vision for Rotor Technologies emerged in 2019 during his Ph.D. studies at MIT, where he embarked on helicopter flight training. This firsthand experience in the cockpit ignited Xu's determination to enhance helicopter safety, culminating in the founding of Rotor Technologies.

The initiative addresses the persistent issue of small aircraft fatalities, prevalent in crop dusting and firefighting activities. By outfitting helicopters with advanced sensors and software, Rotor Technologies enables autonomous operation on some of the most perilous flights, contributing to enhanced safety standards in aviation.

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