Should you, as a pilot, use AI?

Aviation has always been an industry shaped by precision, discipline, and continuous improvement. As aircraft become more advanced, pilots and air traffic controllers rely on communication that is not only clear but uncompromising. In recent years, artificial intelligence has begun subtly weaving itself into this landscape, offering new ways to enhance clarity, efficiency, and preparedness. Among these tools, ChatGPT has emerged as one of the most talked-about additions, not as something that replaces pilots, but as a resource that supports them behind the scenes. 

Benefits of adopting the technology  

For many pilots, ChatGPT has become an unexpected companion during pre-flight preparation. Before a duty day even begins, it can simplify tasks like interpreting weather summaries, clarifying NOTAM wording, comparing alternates, or helping organise operational details. None of this replaces official planning sources, but it gives pilots a way to digest information faster and approach their briefing with greater clarity. The time saved and the convenience offered allow them to focus more on the decision-making that truly matters in the cockpit. 

During flights, especially long-haul operations with dynamic weather, multiple procedures, and varying aircraft states, pilots sometimes encounter situations where a quick explanation or cross-reference could ease their workload. ChatGPT can provide general background information, technical interpretations, or simplified explanations of aircraft systems, something akin to having a digital reference library that answers instantly. It remains a supplementary tool, but a useful one, especially for pilots who value knowledge depth and continuous learning. 

Communication is perhaps where AI shows its most immediate advantages. Aviation connects professionals from all over the world, and language barriers outside the standard phraseology can create delays or misunderstandings. ChatGPT can translate text quickly, helping crew members interpret documents, maintenance messages, or written communication from international teams. Beyond translation, AI also helps rephrase or simplify complex messages, giving pilots clearer ways to express what they mean, an important benefit in an industry where a single miscommunication can have major consequences. 

Decision-making, the cornerstone of piloting, also stands to benefit from what AI can offer. Pilots often describe the challenge of processing information at high speed, especially in demanding phases of flight. AI can break down weather patterns, explain abnormal system behaviour, or help pilots understand the rationale behind specific procedures. It can even support training by generating realistic scenario prompts, exposing pilots to rare events in a safe, controlled manner. Although AI never makes decisions for them, it enhances their ability to understand, evaluate, and act with confidence. 

Challenges with AI 

Yet, as with any new technology, the conversation is incomplete without acknowledging the challenges. The aviation industry operates with a safety-first mindset, one that is supported by rigorous regulations and conservative change management. Relying on AI systems introduces questions about data privacy, accuracy, and cybersecurity. Large language models are powerful, but they can occasionally generate incorrect information, a risk that aviation simply cannot afford. It is for this reason that ChatGPT is not approved for operational cockpit use by any major regulator today. 

Authorities like the FAA and EASA are actively studying how AI should be integrated. The FAA’s recent work focuses primarily on maintenance, predictive analytics, and training rather than in-flight use. EASA has taken a more forward-leaning approach by publishing its AI Roadmap 2.0, which outlines how future AI systems might be certified, but even their framework strongly reinforces the non-negotiable principle that pilots must always remain the final authority. ICAO, too, is developing global guidance, recognising that AI is here to stay but must be treated with caution, transparency, and responsibility. 

So, should pilots be using ChatGPT?  

The answer lies somewhere between enthusiasm and prudence. As a reference tool, as a study aid, and to communicate more clearly, it already adds value. It helps pilots prepare better, learn more deeply, and approach their duties with sharper awareness. But as far as real-time operational decision-making goes, AI is not a replacement for human judgment, and aviation regulators are clear that it should not be, at least not with today’s technology. 

What is certain, however, is that AI is becoming part of aviation’s evolution. Just as electronic flight bags transformed how pilots work, AI will influence how they learn, communicate, and process information. Not by taking over the role of the pilot, but by supporting the skills and situational awareness that make pilots indispensable. 

In many ways, ChatGPT is simply extending aviation’s long-standing culture of continuous improvement. And as long as the technology is used thoughtfully, with the same respect for safety that defines the industry, it has the potential to make flying not just more efficient but even safer in the years to come.