Formulating an Engineering Framework for Future AI Certification in Aviation

A continuous increase in artificial intelligence (AI)-based functions can be expected for future aviation systems, posing significant challenges to traditional development processes. Established systems engineering frameworks, such as the V-model, are not adequately addressing the novel challenges a...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Johann Maximilian Christensen, Thomas Stefani, Akshay Anilkumar Girija, Elena Hoemann, Andrea Vogt, Viktor Werbilo, Umut Durak, Frank Köster, Thomas Krüger, Sven Hallerbach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Aerospace
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2226-4310/12/6/482
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Summary:A continuous increase in artificial intelligence (AI)-based functions can be expected for future aviation systems, posing significant challenges to traditional development processes. Established systems engineering frameworks, such as the V-model, are not adequately addressing the novel challenges associated with AI-based systems. Consequently, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) introduced the W-shaped process, an advancement of the V-model, to set a regulatory framework for the novel challenges of AI Engineering. In contrast, the agile Development Operations (DevOps) approach, widely adopted in software development, promotes a never-ending iterative development process. This article proposes a novel concept that integrates aspects of DevOps into the W-shaped process to create an AI Engineering framework suitable for aviation-specific applications. Furthermore, it builds upon proven ideas and methods using AI Engineering efforts from other domains. The proposed extension of the W-shaped process, compatible with ongoing standardizations from the G34/WG-114 Standardization Working Group, a joint effort between EUROCAE and SAE, addresses the need for a rigorous development process for AI-based systems while acknowledging its limitations and potential for future advancements. The proposed framework allows for a re-evaluation of the AI/ML constituent based on operational information, enabling improvements of the system’s capabilities with each iteration.
ISSN:2226-4310