(San Carlos, CA) – Beacon AI has successfully completed its AFWERX contract to prototype and validate an advanced pilot assistance system designed for critical phases of flight. The project was conducted in collaboration with key U.S. Air Force stakeholders, including AFWERX, the Air Force Research Lab (AFRL), and the 6th Air Refueling Wing.
The effort began with months of simulator development, during which U.S. Air Force mobility pilots provided feedback through numerous testing sessions. This groundwork culminated in a two-week flight test campaign, featuring twelve flights across the country under varied weather and airspace conditions, including several flights from MacDill Air Force Base! The campaign effectively bridged the gap from simulated scenarios to real-world applications, validating essential system features during actual flights.
A highlight of the campaign was achieving what may be an industry first: a successful mid-flight software update carried out via over-the-air technology. "Aviation software updates typically happen on a scale measured in years or even decades," said Matt Cox, CEO of Beacon AI. "Creating improvements and executing a mid-flight over-the-air update within hours demonstrates the kind of rapid, agile software development that the Department of Defense will increasingly require."
Throughout testing, Beacon’s system actively supported pilots by confirming aircraft configurations, assisting with performance calculations, and executing and assisting with dozens of procedural steps, including taxi, takeoff, and landing, significantly enhancing pilot confidence and safety. The performance of SpaceX’s Starlink satellite communication system, used during the tests, played a crucial role in enabling real-time demonstrations and the groundbreaking mid-flight software update.
"Many of the capabilities developed and demonstrated in this effort, when fielded, could have prevented some of the aviation accidents and near-misses recently covered in national news," added Cox. "With aviation safety and modernization of air traffic control systems becoming ever more critical, we're proud to be building solutions that genuinely improve flight safety. This is important work."
About Beacon AI
Beacon AI is a California-based aviation software technology company specializing in developing advanced systems to augment commercial and defense pilots. Our AI pilot assistant is like R2-D2 for pilots. The company’s mission is to enhance the future of flight by making flight operations safer and more efficient. Beacon’s innovative solutions address the complex challenges faced by the aviation sector, backed by leading investors including Costanoa Ventures, Scout Ventures, Sam Altman through Apollo Projects and Hydrazine Capital, and JetBlue Ventures, Mischief, and guided by aviation industry advisors including Hon. Robert Sumwalt (former Chairman of the NTSB) and Ali Bahrami (former Associate Administrator of the FAA).
About AFRL
The Air Force Research Laboratory, or AFRL, is the primary scientific research and development center for the Department of the Air Force. AFRL plays an integral role in leading the discovery, development and integration of affordable warfighting technologies for our air, space and cyberspace forces. With a workforce spanning across nine technology areas and 40 other operations around the globe, AFRL provides a diverse portfolio of science and technology ranging from fundamental to advanced research and technology development. For more information, visit afresearchlab.com.
About AFWERX
As the innovation arm of the DAF and a directorate within the Air Force Research Laboratory, AFWERX brings cutting-edge American ingenuity from small businesses and start-ups to address the most pressing challenges of the DAF. AFWERX employs approximately 370 military, civilian and contractor personnel at four hubs and sites executing an annual $1.4 billion budget. Since 2019, AFWERX has awarded over 10,400 contracts worth more than $7.24 billion to strengthen the U.S. defense industrial base and drive faster technology transition to operational capability. For more information, visit: afwerx.com.