by Elsie Clark | Nov 6, 2025 | AI & ML, Innovation
GE Aerospace will support propulsion and testing for Shield AI’s X-BAT.
Under a new Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), GE Aerospace will supply their 110-GE-129 engine to power Shield’s AI-piloted eVTOL fighter jet. Launched last month in Washington DC, the X-BAT operates autonomously using Shield’s Hivemind software. The company says it can perform even in environments with limited communications, whether working in a team or on independently.
Shield AI aircraft engineering senior vice president Armor Harris said:
GE Aerospace’s F110 engine is one of the most successful and reliable fighter engines in history and has the operability characteristics that X-BAT’s VTOL design demands. GE Aerospace has been a great partner, and we are excited by the potential of our combined team.
With over 11 million flight hours, the F110 engine has been tested and developed over four decades. GE Aerospace’s expertise in the fields complements Shield AI’s innovation. The eVTOL business has already been valued at more than US$5 billion as the defence and aerospace industries seek to advance AI-powered solutions.
Earlier this year, Shield announced a partnership with Korea Aerospace Industries to develop AI pilots. GE Aerospace defence and systems president and CEO Amy Gowder said:
We’re excited to pair GE Aerospace’s proven experience in developing and scaling propulsion systems with Shield AI’s vehicle development to move faster from concept to capability.
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by Elsie Clark | Oct 29, 2025 | AI & ML, Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Dubai-based carrier Emirates has reported a measurable decrease in unexpected turbulence incidents over the past year thanks to onboard data and analytics.
Changing atmospheric conditions due to climate change are making inflight turbulence more regular and more severe. Notably, scientists at Reading University in the UK found that severe turbulence has increased by 55% between 1979 and 2020 over the North Atlantic. Professor Paul Williams, one of the scientists leading the project, told the BBC earlier this year that turbulent incidents could soon double or treble in length due to changes in temperature and wind patterns.
Turbulence hit the headlines in 2024 after one died and many more were injured on a Singapore Airlines flight from London Heathrow. Additionally, ICAO reported in 2023 that 40% of all inflight injuries were the result of turbulence.
Emirates takes action to mitigate unexpected turbulence
Over the past year, Emirates has been investing in multiple systems that can provide pilots with real-time analytics and help its aircraft avoid severe turbulence. Captain Hassan Alhammadi, Divisional Senior Vice President Flight Operations at Emirates, said:
While we cannot promise turbulence-free flights, these initiatives have contributed to a significant reduction in unexpected severe turbulence incidents over the past year, helping make journeys safer and more comfortable for our customers.
One technology partner is SkyPath, which uses AI and machine learning (ML) to detect and predict turbulence hotspots that traditional weather forecasting might overlook. Alongside this platform, Emirates has deployed Lufthansa Systems’ Lido mPilot application, which provides pilots with high-resolution weather data and real-time alerts.
Emirates is also participating in IATA’s Turbulence Aware programme, sharing data with airlines to help other aircraft adjust flight paths in advance to minimise the impact of turbulence.
Alhammadi added:
Our multi-layer approach with weather prediction and technology partners and active participation in the IATA Turbulence Aware programme also enables us to contribute valuable data and insights to the broader aviation industry as we collectively work to address this growing meteorological challenge.
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by Elsie Clark | Oct 22, 2025 | AI & ML, Innovation, MRO IT
Back in April, our Aerospace Tech Review Awards 2025 honoured a range of cutting-edge startups, speakers, and collaborations across the aerospace industry. Most Disruptive Startup went to AIXI, an innovative data and analytics company that is giving aviation MRO data a much-need upgrade.
To learn more, we sat down on video call with AIXI’s CEO, Cameron Byrd. With aviation continuing to depend on legacy systems, AIXI’s data-cleaning AI represents a significant advancement. Information that might previously have been buried in spreadsheets or hidden behind reference numbers can be brought to the fore through AIXI’s industry-specific large-language model (ILM).
It’s impossible to extract reliable information from maintenance data without cleaning it first. That’s where everyone’s failing, and where AIXI focuses.
Byrd believes airlines’ extensive maintenance data backlogs airlines represent an untapped ‘gold mine’ that could be leveraged far more effectively. AIXI’s ILM extracts, cleans, and standardises this data, while additional tools can identify repeat defects by aircraft or by fleet. The startup’s ultimate goal is to provide the aviation industry with strong data foundations, which they can build upon for true prescriptive and predictive maintenance.
With an accuracy rate of over 95%, the AIXI model can review 3,000 records a day and save 15,000 hours of labour. Real-world use cases have demonstrated these high-performance capabilities: AIXI have been working with Southwest Airlines since 2022, and upon installation immediately freed up five full-time employees.
Southwest also tried to have humans verify the results of the autocoder. And what happened was the autocoder would beat the humans.
AIXI is currently tailored to manage Boeing 737s, but in the future Byrd hopes to refine the ILM so it can be applied to more aircraft records. He also hopes to build an industry-specific chatbot tool, where engineers can input questions on maintenance procedures or the number of delays due to certain causes, and receive accurate answers based on the airline’s data.
When it comes to MRO, AI is a transformative tool that will become essential to the running of the aviation industry. Byrd concludes:
AI is the way to unlock the power of data, because if you know the history of your fleet, you can predict the future of your fleet.
🎥 Watch the full interview to get the full lowdown on AIXI’s game-changing technology, and why they won Most Disruptive Startup at the ATR Awards 2025.
Questions asked include:
- Aviation is known for being dependent on legacy tools and methods. What systems have traditionally been used to aggregate MRO data? What are the challenges that come with using these?
- How is AIXI disrupting this field? Tell me more about your AI-powered solutions and how they are a game-changer for MRO.
- What are your plans for the future? How would you like to grow your business/develop the product?
- How do you see use of AI changing aerospace and aviation over the next decade?
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 18, 2025 | AI & ML, Flight Ops IT, Innovation
Korean Air and Boeing will partner on predictive analytics for proactive fleet maintenance, they announced at the MRO Asia-Pacific 2025 conference in Singapore.
The South Korean national carrier has established an early lead in predictive maintenance, setting up a dedicated team in 2023 that has since developed an in-house MRO solution. The partnership with Boeing will focus on advancing data-driven maintenance from this foundation to optimise fleet availability.
Chan Woo Jung, Senior Vice President and Head of Maintenance and Engineering at Korean Air, said:
We have made substantial progress in enhancing fleet reliability through our Smart MRO strategy, specifically by leveraging predictive maintenance. This strategic collaboration with Boeing will build on that success, taking our capabilities to the next level.
As we continue to expand our fleet, this partnership is key to enhancing our maintenance operations.
The announcement comes after Korean Air signed the largest-ever single aircraft order in history in late August 2025. 103 new Boeing airliners of different types are set to replenish and expand the airline’s fleet as they merge with Asiana Airlines.
The new predictive maintenance partnership with Boeing will support the US$36 billion investment, ensuring that Korean Air get the most out of their new aircraft while minimising passenger disruption.
Boeing’s suite of intelligence tools includes the Insight Accelerator, a custom predictive maintenance solution that helps avoid flight delays and minimises aircraft time on ground (AOG). Powered by machine learning (ML) algorithms, it is the first tool of its kind to launch on the MRO market.
Join us at Aerospace Tech Week 2026, where our dedicated MRO IT panels will be discussing the future of predictive maintenance in aviation.
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 12, 2025 | AI & ML, Innovation, MRO IT
Copenhagen Airport (CPH) has introduced a new solution for real-time monitoring emissions from auxiliary power units (APUs).
The Danish airport has rolled out Assaia’s EmissionsControl technology across its stands. Airports often struggle to reduce APU emissions due to a lack of data on how runtime is influenced by locations and weather conditions. Through this new development, CPH claims to have become the world’s first airport to utilise the innovative monitoring solution.
Powered by artificial intelligence (AI), Assaia’s system deploys cameras to track APU usage during aircraft turnarounds. This provides CPH with comprehensive data on APU usage patterns that can then inform effective carbon reduction strategies.
CPH’s chief operating officer Kristoffer Plenge-Brandt said:
The use of APU contributes to noise and emissions of CO₂ and air pollution, including ultrafine particles, which are a concern for both our employees and our neighbouring communities.
That’s why we aim to reduce APU usage as much as possible. With this new tool, we can identify when our operational guidelines are not being met and understand the reasons behind it
Weather conditions are key to understanding APU runtime. Extreme cold temperatures require longer warmup times, while hot weather necessitates internal cooling systems. CPH’s data-centric approach means they can optimise APU usage without relying on assumptions, as has previously been practice.
Alongside improving ground operations, the initiative contributes to CPH’s 2030 net-zero emissions target. Airlines flying into the airport will also benefit from decreased fuel consumption and lower operational costs.
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by Elsie Clark | Sep 10, 2025 | AI & ML, Innovation
A new strategic partnership between Adacel Technologies and Smart Eye will enhance the MaxSim air traffic control (ATC) simulation platform. MaxSim currently provides the Federal Aviation Authority (FAA), Air Force, and U.S. Army with controller training across a variety of scenarios.
Through integration with Smart Eye’s artificial intelligence (AI) programme, MaxSim will monitor trainee controllers’ eye movements and attention patterns during simulation exercises. This will allow instructors to analyse objective, quantifiable data on the trainees’ development, ultimately improving learning and preparedness.
Adacel vice president Michael Saunders commented:
Partnering with Smart Eye now brings advanced eye-tracking analytics into MaxSim, giving instructors unprecedented insight into attention, decision-making, and situational awareness—further enhancing safety and training effectiveness.
As well as ATC training, the sophisticated human performance analytics system has the potential to roll out across other aviation training in due course.
Improved training critical to planned ATC upgrades
The Adacel/Smart Eye partnership comes as the US begins a major overhaul of its ATC system. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy announced the plans in May 2025, and recently stated that the upgrade could cost US$31.5 billion.
Training new air traffic controllers is essential to these development plans. The FAA ended 2024 with around 3,900 controllers short of targets, but the ensuing recruitment drive has left instructors overworked. Adacel and Smart Eye’s new partnership will provide data that not only enhances ATC training programmes, but reduces the burden on instructors to evaluate performance.
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