Evaluating the Incorporation of Artificial Intelligence into Naval Flight Education

Abstract

Artificial intelligence (AI) has taken the world by storm. As the technology advances, the United States Military and its branches are eager to find ways in which the incorporation of this evolving technology can increase mission effectiveness. In the U.S. Navy, the aviation community is curious about the ways in which AI would impact naval flight education. This study aims to identify the positive and negative implications of incorporating AI into naval flight education, with a focus on the first phase of flight training, Naval Introductory Flight Evaluation (NIFE). This study uses library research as the primary method of research. The result analysis of this research identifies limitations of the current NIFE curriculum, explains the potential benefits of AI-based tools, discusses challenges that need to be addressed before adopting this technology, and makes suggestions for areas of future research on this topic. Using published research on the effectiveness of AI tools in education and aviation, this study concludes that tools such as Intelligent Tutor Systems (ITS) and AI-based virtual instructors have significant potential to make knowledge acquisition and skill development more efficient and available for Student Naval Aviators (SNAs). This study also concludes that there is significant need for future research in development and validation before these tools can be most effectively implemented in the Naval Aviation Training Curriculum.