AI Use Cases Tailored for Part 145 Organisations
Let’s explore examples of use cases in the aerospace industry, specifically how AI could be applied to solve specific problems or perform particular tasks in Part 145 organisations.
As you've likely heard, AI is expected to be a transformative force, particularly enhancing productivity in decision-making across various aviation domains.
These include:
Initial and Continuing Airworthiness: Applies to systems or equipment required for type certification or by operating rules.
Maintenance: Encompasses systems supporting the scheduling and performance of tasks intended to timely detect or prevent unsafe conditions.
Air Operations: Covers systems, equipment, or functions intended to support, complement, or replace tasks performed by aircrew or other operations personnel.
ATM/ANS: Applies to equipment intended to support, complement, or replace end-user tasks, delivering both ATS and non-ATS services.
Training: Involves systems used for monitoring training efficiency or supporting the organizational management system, ensuring compliance and safety.
Aerodromes: Encompasses systems automating key aspects of aerodrome operational services.
Environmental Protection: Covers systems or equipment affecting the environmental characteristics of products.
But, actually, which particular tasks or activities are we talking about?
As an aerospace professional, and in particular, if you work in an MRO organization, you might question which potential use cases the AI systems could be applied to.
In a previous newsletter, I revealed the EASA regulatory landscape.
Having as reference the EASA Artificial Intelligence concept paper, Issue 2, let’s focus today in:
The AI classification
Areas potentially affected by AI in a Part 145 organisation
Examples of particular use cases for a Part 145 organisation
Conclusions
Let's dive in! 🤿
The AI classification
EASA identifies three levels of AI systems, each escalating as it reduces the authority of the end user.
These levels can further be divided into subcategories:
Level 1 - Assistance to Human
Level 1A: Human augmentation
Level 1B: Human cognitive assistance in decision and action selection
Level 2 - Human/AI teaming
Level 2A: Human and AI-based system cooperation
Level 2B: Human and AI-based system collaboration
Level 3 - Advanced Automation
Level 3A: The AI-based system performs decisions and actions, overridable by the human.
Level 3B: The AI-based system performs nonoverridable decisions and actions.
Areas potentially affected by AI in a MRO organisation
EASA's classification aligns with the phased approach adopted by most stakeholders for AI application deployment.
Areas potentially affected by AI in a Part 145 organisation
Specifically, for a Part 145 organization, the focus is on two primary areas:
Tasks by CAMO (Continuous Airworthiness Maintenance Organisation): Focused on planning and scheduling maintenance tasks.
Tasks by Part 145 Organisations: Concentrated on the execution of maintenance.
In particular, for a Part 145 organisation, I have identified the potential areas below where AI-based systems could augment, support, or replace human actions:
Examples of particular use cases for a Part 145 organisation
First, let's introduce the concept of 'Prompt' in the AI domain, meaning:
“the input given to instruct AI and elicit a specific response or task completion.”
Potential AI-based applications for Part 145 organizations could include:
As you can observe, the AI-based system could support on the analysis or decision making (level 1 or level 2), but it could also be upgraded to perform the tasks automatically without human intervention (level 3).
Conclusions
In conclusion, AI it's a transformative journey that promises to redefine efficiency in Part 145 organisations.
From my perspective, the primary and overarching advantage of AI-based systems lies in their ability to support the cognitive offloading of repetitive tasks, liberating valuable bandwidth for a more concentrated effort on strategic and critical responsibilities.
This enhancement not only promises to elevate productivity and efficiency but also stands to elevate workforce engagement by ushering in novel approaches to work.
As we embrace the capabilities of AI, the impact on operational dynamics becomes a compelling force, promoting a more engaged and agile workforce prepared for the challenges of tomorrow.
Disclaimer: The information provided in the newsletter and related resources is intended for informational and educational purposes only. It does not constitute professional advice, and any actions taken based on the content are at the reader's discretion.