Global Ethical and Regulatory Frameworks for AI in Commercial Aviation: Analysis, Gaps, and Governance Proposals

This report examines the current global regulatory and ethical landscape for the integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in commercial aviation. It provides a detailed analysis of laws, frameworks, and standards from key aviation authorities including the U.S. FAA, the European Union’s EASA and AI Act, and the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO). It addresses both onboard AI systems—such as digital copilots and flight management automation—and ground-based applications including air traffic control and predictive maintenance. The report identifies key challenges such as gaps in certification processes, liability, data governance, explainability, and ethics. Drawing on regulatory models like the EU AI Act, IEEE Ethically Aligned Design, and ICAO’s AI roadmap, it proposes a theoretical governance framework to ensure the safe, ethical, and globally harmonized use of AI in aviation.