Air Commodore Mukhvinder Pal Singh Virk Sumedh Singh Virk

This paper examines the rapidly expanding integration of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in aviation systems and the opportunities it presents for enhanced automation, efficiency, and operational decision-making. While AI adoption in aviation is still at an early stage, it introduces significant certification and regulatory assurance challenges due to its probabilistic behaviour, data dependency, and limited transparency when compared with traditional deterministic avionics. Global regulatory bodies such as the Federal Aviation Administration, Radio Technical Commission for Aeronautics, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, and the Society of Automotive Engineers are actively developing frameworks for the certification and assurance of AI in aerospace systems. In India, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation has begun modernising aviation legislation through the Bharatiya Vayuyan Adhiniyam (2024). However, a structured certification pathway for AI in aviation—particularly for safety-critical and mission-critical applications—remains absent. This paper critically reviews international AI certification models, compares them with India’s current regulatory position, and proposes a comprehensive civil–military AI certification roadmap aligned with national requirements. It extends the analysis to military aviation by proposing the establishment of a Defence AI Aviation Certification Authority to oversee AI applications across the Indian Air Force, Defence Research and Development Organisation, Hindustan Aeronautics Limited, and defence unmanned systems. The paper further evaluates relevant assurance standards such as DO-178C, DO-330, DO 326A, assurance of machine learning in aviation systems, runtime assurance architectures, and AI explainability requirements. Finally, it recommends regulatory interventions and institutional mechanisms to accelerate trustworthy AI adoption while safeguarding flight safety, national security and public trust.