When pilots are navigating turbulent weather, responding to unexpected flight conditions or making split-second decisions in the cockpit, information can mean the difference between a routine flight and a dangerous situation.
As artificial intelligence, or AI, becomes increasingly integrated into aviation, researchers are exploring new ways to help pilots process complex information, identify emerging risks and make better quick decisions. From summarizing critical flight notices and predicting emergency situations to improving flight planning and understanding pilot performance, AI is poised to transform the future of air travel.
Now, students in the Ira A. Fulton Schools of Engineering at Arizona State University have an opportunity to contribute to that future through the AI Challenge for Pilot Assist, a new competition that brings together students, faculty members and industry experts to tackle some of aviation’s most pressing challenges.
Hosted through a collaboration between Honeywell Aerospace Technologies and the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, part of the Fulton Schools, the challenge invites faculty-led student teams to develop innovative AI-driven solutions that support pilots and improve aviation safety.
Participants will focus on research areas including human performance, natural language processing, emergency response, flight planning and the identification of novel in-flight situations. Potential projects range from designing systems that connect pilot actions with air traffic control instructions to developing AI tools that summarize Notices to Airmen, or NOTAMs, and deliver real-time alerts based on flight conditions.
Heading the initiative are Gail-Joon Ahn, one of the world’s leading cybersecurity researchers, and Jia Zou, a Fulton Schools assistant professor of computer science and engineering.
Ahn, a Fulton Schools professor of computer science and engineering, brings decades of experience building programs that prepare students to solve meaningful technological challenges. In January, he was named a Fellow of the Association for Computing Machinery, one of the highest honors in computing, recognizing his contributions to advancing information and systems security. Throughout his career, Ahn has championed hands-on, interdisciplinary learning experiences that prepare students to address complex problems at the intersection of technology, security and society.
The AI Challenge for Pilot Assist reflects that philosophy by giving students the opportunity to work on authentic aviation problems.
“Artificial intelligence is creating new possibilities for how humans and intelligent systems work together in high-stakes environments,” Ahn says. “This challenge gives ASU research teams a unique opportunity to apply expertise to real-world problems while learning directly from aviation leaders. Our goal is to prepare students and faculty to develop technologies that are not only innovative, but also trustworthy, reliable and capable of improving safety and decision-making.”
Zou’s expertise in machine learning and large-scale data management complements the challenge’s focus on data-driven decision-making in complex operational environments. Her research explores how AI systems can efficiently analyze large volumes of information and deliver timely insights, capabilities that are increasingly important in aviation. Through the challenge, students and faculty will explore emerging opportunities at the intersection of AI, human-machine teaming, safety and analytics while addressing industry needs.
The competition also highlights the growing relationship between ASU and Honeywell, which has expanded collaborative opportunities for students through research partnerships, events and the Honeywell Innovation Hub on ASU’s Polytechnic campus. The hub was created to help students gain hands-on experience with emerging technologies and create professional networking opportunities.
The first team application deadline is scheduled for July 31. Additional milestones, including finalist selection, mentoring sessions and final presentations, will take place throughout the 2026–27 academic year.
For students, the challenge offers more than prize money or recognition. It provides valuable experience working at the intersection of AI and aviation, areas expected to play a major role in the future workforce.
Ross Maciejewski, director of the School of Computing and Augmented Intelligence, says opportunities like the challenge are central to the school’s mission.
“We’re driven to give students opportunities to work on projects that will help them in their careers after school,” Maciejewski says. “Experiences like this allow students to collaborate with industry partners, tackle meaningful problems and develop the technical and professional skills employers are looking for. That’s exactly the kind of impactful research experience we want every student to have.”
As aviation systems become more complex and data-rich, the need for intelligent decision-support tools will continue to grow. The next breakthrough may come not from a corporate research lab or government agency, but from a student team willing to take on a difficult challenge.
Through the AI Challenge for Pilot Assist, Fulton Schools students will have the opportunity to do exactly that, helping shape technologies that could one day support pilots, improve safety and redefine how humans and AI work together in the skies above.