Merlin Labs, a private startup, has secured a contract worth over $100 million with the US Air Force to integrate its AI pilot technology into C-130 cargo planes, even as the Air Line Pilots Association warns against the replacement of human pilots by automation. This state-backed corporate venture highlights the ongoing drive for capital accumulation through technological displacement of labor.
The company is currently testing its AI pilot system in a Cessna Caravan over Rhode Island, seeking certification from the Federal Aviation Administration. During a demonstration at Quonset State Airport, a test pilot kept his hands off the controls as the AI system managed the aircraft's acceleration, climb, and turns.
This “experimental” Merlin Pilot system goes beyond traditional autopilots, utilizing a natural language processing model to interpret instructions from a mock air traffic controller and respond via radio with a computerized voice. The system successfully executed a turn command after the test pilot authorized it.
Capital's New Frontier
Merlin CEO Matthew George stated that “Eighty percent of accidents in aviation are still caused by human error,” framing the AI development as a means to reduce this figure. This narrative of safety improvement serves to justify the automation push, which promises significant cost savings through potential wage suppression and reduced labor needs.
Boeing estimates that airlines worldwide will require more than 600,000 new pilots over the next two decades, a figure that capital seeks to address through automation rather than through improved wages, benefits, or working conditions that would attract and retain human pilots. The demonstration was presented as a step towards automating pilot tasks and potentially enabling fully autonomous flights in the future.
Commercial aviation has steadily incorporated automation for decades, with current fly-by-wire systems interpreting pilot inputs even during manual flight. Mykel Kochenderfer, a Stanford University researcher, noted that modern cockpits already contain significant automation, but new AI-assisted systems are designed to handle a broader range of unexpected situations than traditional rule-based automation.
The State's Complicity
The Federal Aviation Administration's certification process, known for its strict standards and years of testing, is the state mechanism through which this technology will be legitimized for broader deployment. The US Air Force contract further solidifies the state's role in funding and advancing private capital's interests in automation.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has publicly promoted artificial intelligence tools as part of the Trump administration’s push to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic control system. Duffy claimed, “Controllers are going to control the airspace, but we can make their jobs easier,” while also stating, “We are never going to outsource the national airspace to AI tools.” This rhetoric attempts to manage public perception by promising workload reduction and efficiency, while simultaneously advancing technologies that could lead to job displacement and increased reliance on automated systems.
Labor's Resistance
Capt. Jason Ambrosi, president of the Air Line Pilots Association (ALPA), which represents over 79,000 pilots in the United States and Canada, issued a clear statement on the matter. Ambrosi asserted that automation and AI should support pilots, not replace them. He emphasized that “Technological advancements can improve aviation safety, but they will never be a substitute for the pilots on an aircraft.”
Ambrosi further stated that “The most important safety feature on every airline flight will always be two well-trained and rested pilots on the flightdeck.” Merlin CEO Matthew George acknowledged that fully pilotless passenger flights are still distant, stating, “We’re not flipping a switch to uncrewed airplanes,” and that the current focus is on “putting AI alongside human pilots and building trust.” However, the company’s pursuit of broader automation capabilities and the state’s financial backing for such endeavors indicate a clear trajectory toward minimizing human labor in the aviation sector.
During the test flight, the Merlin system successfully navigated a gradual descent and maintained its flight path despite a crosswind, with the test pilot noting, “It’s a challenging problem for the automation,” but adding, “But once you crack it, it makes things much easier on the pilot.” This pursuit of "easier" operations for capital continues to pose a direct threat to the livelihoods and collective power of aviation workers.