Role, Needs, and State of Cognitive Assistants in Single-Pilot Operations

Commercial aviation crew sizes have historically shrunk and are only projected to shrink down further to a one-member crew, known as single-pilot operations. Single-pilot operations involve a redesign of the modern two-person flight deck, as the work of the second pilot is now displaced to either enhanced ground support or increased automation. This paper focuses on cognitive assistants, a solution for work displacement within the latter domain of increased automation, where artificial intelligence may take the role of the second pilot and provide crucial decision-making, planning, and flight support to the remaining pilot. Work within this area is numerous, but a complete survey of current theory and implementations for cognitive assistants has yet to be completed. Therefore, this paper reviews current analyses and implementations of cognitive assistants within aviation broadly and discusses their potential within single-pilot operations. Gaps and constraints that remain within cognitive assistants for single-pilot operations are also analyzed, and future pathways for the incorporation of cognitive assistants in commercial aviation are identified.