by Elsie Clark | Dec 8, 2025 | Innovation
Embraer has launched Smart Planning, an AI tool that will improve operational readiness and inventory management across its supply chain.
New data-driven process will offer the aircraft manufacturer visibility across the production line as it continues its digital transformation journey. AI pioneers Aquarela Analytics assisted on the project, which analysed over two terabytes of data across ten months. The two complementary methodologies — Embraer’s Agile framework and the Data Culture Methodology used by Aquarela Analytics — worked to extract, clean, and map data from Embraer’s operations.
Marcos Santos, CEO of Aquarela Analytics, noted
Throughout the process, we applied all of our expertise in data analysis, platforms, and artificial intelligence algorithms to improve, transform, and integrate Embraer’s operating system. It was a challenging project, where at each stage we deepened and broadened the scope as complexity and results were measured.
By creating this data architecture, Smart Planning has helped the Brazilian aerospace giant reduce operational costs and improve proactive decision-making. Dimas Tomelin, Vice President of Strategy, Digital and Innovation at Embraer, said:
Smart Planning is the most up-to-date data tool developed and integrated to make Embraer’s processes more effective. It consists of an interactive control panel on the materials used in the production process of our aircraft, helping the planning team in the management of purchases and stock levels to have more predictability in case of lack or excess of materials thanks to the use of artificial intelligence and a prediction model.
Ongoing geopolitical disruption, high labour costs, and material shortages have all compounded the aviation industry’s supply chain issues. These problems could cost as much as US$11 billion in 2025, industry body IATA warned earlier this year.
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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 | Flight Ops IT, Innovation, Sustainability
According to the latest patent data, innovation in AI for sustainable aviation and aerospace tech has increased by 20% over the past five years.
The Inside Green Innovation: Progress Report from Appleyard Lees found that global patent filings in the sector went up from 254 in 2019 to 307 in 2023. Increasing control of variables such as aircraft altitude, speed, and pressure, as well as advances in onboard systems and digital data processing, are attributed to the growth.
Adam Tindall, UK and European Patent Attorney for Appleyard Lees, said:
Innovations in areas such as aircraft design, propulsion, operational efficiencies and reductions in waste and energy infrastructure – traditionally aimed at achieving business advantage – are now expected also to reduce carbon emissions and meet environmental targets.
As part of this, AI-driven innovation is showing a tangible surge in aviation and aerospace and redefining how organisations are addressing the industries’ challenges.
The report found that Boeing remains the leader in sustainable aerospace development, filing the most patents over the past ten years. Other leaders include Honeywell, GE Aerospace, Airbus, Thales, and the Chinese company SZ DJI Technology. French company Safran was also highlighted as a key developer in fuel efficiency and hybrid propulsion.
The use cases for AI in sustainable aviation development are only increasing. From flight ops to SAF production, the potential for optimisation is extensive. However, the aviation industry must remember that strong data foundations are required for AI insights to be useful and actionable. And while the patent activity is promising, as net-zero emissions targets loom nearer, successful implementation will be just as important as innovation.
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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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