Avionics
GE Teams With Merlin to Combine Autonomous Autopilot with FMS
Partnership is focused on achieving single-pilot operations for legacy aircraft
Merlin autopilot
Merlin and GE want to integrate its autonomous autopilot technology with legacy flight management systems to enable single pilot operations. © GE Aerospace

GE Aerospace has agreed to support Merlin’s efforts to certify its autonomous flight technology for use with existing civil and military aircraft. Under an agreement announced on September 23, the companies said their collaboration will focus on artificial intelligence and “autonomy-focused solutions that enable crew reduction efforts.”

The partnership presents the prospect of Merlin’s autopilot technology eventually being integrated with GE’s flight management systems, which are installed on more than 14,000 legacy military aircraft worldwide. Boston-based Merlin has been working under Pentagon contracts to demonstrate the potential for the technology to be deployed on U.S. Air Force aircraft such as the KC-135 Stratotankers, through the Center Console Refresh program, and also the C-130J Super Hercules.