SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS

ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE AND CYBERSECURITY / NEW CHALLENGES OF AVIATION / THE ROLE OF TRAINING AND EDUCATION

 

INTERNATIONAL SEMINAR – ROME 10/11/2023

SUMMARY CONCLUSIONS

 

INTRODUCTION

The seminar was organised by the “ European Association of Aviation Training and Education Organisations ( EATEO )” and the “ Flight Safety Foundations –Mediterranean – FSF-MED”, with the support of the Ministry of Transport of the Republic of Cyprus, the Civil Aviation Authority of Italy –ENAC and EUROCONTROL.

Eighty ( 80 ) representatives from all  International and European Organisations , as well as from several countries from Europe,  the US, Africa, Asia and the M.East participated at the Seminar as speakers and attendees .

From the various presentations, the following summary conclusions can be made :

 

  1. ICAO acknowledges the global and borderless nature of cybersecurity threats in aviation and emphasizes their potential impact on safety, security, efficiency, and capacity across countries. The organization advocates for a harmonized and cooperative approach, aligning with its mission for the development of international civil aviation. ICAO uses legal instruments, standards, resolutions, and guidance materials to comprehensively address cybersecurity, including the crucial Beijing Convention and Protocol of 2010 for international cooperation against cyber-attacks. Annex 17 standards mandate states to conduct risk assessments and implement protective measures. The Aviation Cybersecurity Strategy, endorsed in 2019, outlines seven pillars, covering international cooperation, governance, legislation, policy, information sharing, incident management, and the human element. The Action Plan, approved in 2020, guides its implementation, and a training roadmap aligns with the strategy for a comprehensive training portfolio. Operationally, ICAO pioneers the International Aviation Trust Framework for a globally harmonized framework in securing digital information exchange among aviation stakeholders.

    2. Furthermore, ICAO proactively supports Member States in establishing robust national cybersecurity systems, emphasizing the ratification of international legal instruments, comprehensive cybersecurity frameworks, and a holistic approach. Key elements include ensuring adequate resources expertise, proactive risk management, continuous workforce training, and regular compliance monitoring. The multifaceted approach underscores ICAO's commitment to a comprehensive and collaborative strategy in addressing cybersecurity challenges in civil aviation.

  2. In the realm of IATA, AI is recognized as a tool, with cybersecurity being a related threat, presenting challenges in application and training, such as data privacy, ethical concerns, and skill gaps. Different types of training are required for different roles in the organization. AI is a tool providing new opportunities for building and delivering aviation training. Organizations should invest in training for AI and cybersecurity to gain a competitive edge and ensure digital resilience.

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  3. The JAA Training Organisation highlights the transformative impact of the AI revolution, emphasizing its distinctiveness. AI is viewed as an opportunity to enhance learning and job adaptation, leading to more efficient, complete, and accurate course development. Embracing AI naturally adjusts job roles, but caution is urged, emphasizing the importance of asking the right questions and critically reviewing generated content. Addressing resistance to AI integration in aviation training is deemed challenging but essential, with suggested strategies including clear communication, showcasing success stories, involving stakeholders, and fostering flexible adoption. Ethical concerns, especially in privacy, data security, bias, and fairness, must be prioritized, requiring collaboration to establish clear guidelines for the ethical use of AI. The overall sentiment is optimistic, emphasizing that, regardless of technological advancements, thriving is possible by learning to use technology collaboratively.

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  4. Furthermore, EUROCONTROL/EATM-CERT is actively developing four AI applications, reflecting a proactive approach to leveraging AI to improve cybersecurity. It encourages openness and eagerness to embrace AI in business and duties, emphasizing its potential to increase productivity, save resources, alleviate mundane tasks, challenge production completeness, enhance creativity, enable complex analyses, and provide access to knowledge databases.

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  5. Airports Council International World (ACI) underscores the profound impact of demographic shifts, changing workforce expectations, and sustainability on airports, emphasizing the pivotal role of automation and digitalization. Despite the efficiency benefits, these advancements present challenges in cybersecurity and data accessibility. While the remote tower service can be valuable, it is emphasized that it should not be applied in a multiple-tower concept. A close network is deemed necessary to implement the connection link and enable AI to effectively support Air Traffic Controllers in the challenge of protecting Air Operations from GNSS Jamming & Spoofing, emphasizing the need for continuous training and information for the crews.ACI advocates collaboration with global bodies and the cultivation of a skilled cybersecurity workforce. The APEX in Cybersecurity Assessment, part of ACI's Airport Excellence Program, is introduced as a practical tool aligning with global standards for resilient airport cyber ecosystems. The World Airport IT Standing Committee (WAITSC) concentrates on key areas, such as cybersecurity, AI, digital transformation, and smart data, offering essential guidance. Recent publications, including the Cyber Security Implementation Handbook, Smart Security Handbook, and the Smart Data Hub handbook, exemplify ACI's commitment to providing practical advice for airports to establish cyber-resilience and optimize data usage.

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  6. AI has significantly enhanced the aviation industry, improving safety and efficiency while reducing pilot workload. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) has a comprehensive action plan for AI in aviation, focusing on safety, security, AI assurance, human factors, and ethical considerations to ensure its safe integration. Despite AI's advancements in aviation, Professional Pilot International Associations reject reduced crew operations (eMCO or SIPO), asserting that AI's present maturity level and associated cyber threats cannot ensure safety at a level equal to or higher than a two-pilot crew. They emphasize that AI and automation, both onboard and on the ground, have not demonstrated the capability to handle unexpected situations with an acceptable level of safety, robustness, and security. The conclusions from the Pilot Professional Perspective emphasize the need to focus on security threats posed by evolving technology and increasing challenges in aviation.

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  7. The integration of AI in aviation training requires a holistic approach that addresses various concerns and challenges. These include training program familiarity, cultural shift, integration with existing systems, usability and user experience, collaboration, and interdisciplinary training, regulatory compliance, international standardization, return on investment, incentives for adoption, concerns about job displacement, continuous learning culture, ethical AI practices, trust in AI reliability, data security and privacy concerns.

    8. The EATEO publication of the "Implementation Guide for Artificial Intelligence in Aviation: A Human-Centric Guide for Practitioners and Organizations" addresses these concerns and promotes open communication in the aviation industry, which can successfully aid in the transition to safer, more efficient, and technologically advanced training approaches.