Merlin Clears a Certification Hurdle for AI in the Cockpit

Milestone covers the software that talks to air traffic control

Merlin’s Cessna Caravan in flight — Merlin has been flying a Cessna 208B Grand Caravan in New Zealand since 2024 as it works toward certifying its Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand. © Merlin Labs

By Hanneke Weitering • Science & Technology Editor

August 14, 2026

Few obstacles in autonomous flight have proved more stubborn than persuading regulators to accept artificial intelligence in a safety-critical role. Merlin now says New Zealand’s civil aviation authority has settled on how the company must prove that its AI systems are safe, representing a significant milestone on the path to certification. Quarterly results Merlin reported on August 13, however, show a start-up still far from turning its technological progress into a profitable business.

Boston-based Merlin announced on August 6 that it reached the Stage of Involvement (SOI) 3 milestone with the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand (CAANZ) for two components of its Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system: the flight control computer and the automated communication system. Reaching SOI 3 means the regulator has reviewed and accepted the testing evidence for those two components, one stage short of final compliance. The CAANZ conducted the work in coordination with the FAA under a bilateral agreement; the two agencies jointly approved Merlin’s certification basis in 2021.

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