Wall Street Journal
• Alison Sider
United Airlines says it will block unauthorized AI agents from accessing its digital platforms and making reservations or other transactions. The carrier cites cybersecurity, privacy and potential FAA and DOT compliance concerns, as AI tools increasingly seek to plan and book travel on passengers’ behalf.
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The FAA is deploying its first digital air traffic control towers at U.S. airports, using cameras, sensors and displays to give controllers a continuous 360-degree view. Separately, it is expanding its SMART planning tool to all 22 en route centers despite calls to pause its Washington-area rollout.
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United Airlines says it will block unauthorized AI agents from accessing its digital platforms and making reservations or other transactions. The carrier cites cybersecurity, privacy and potential FAA and DOT compliance concerns, as AI tools increasingly seek to plan and book travel on passengers’ behalf.
A U.S. military demonstration in Morocco will test an uncrewed Cessna Caravan configured for casualty evacuation. The trial explores whether autonomous aircraft can support medical rescue operations in remote or difficult-to-reach locations, with potential relevance beyond the demonstration site.
Dronamics and HENSOLDT demonstrated a Black Swan uncrewed aircraft in Bulgaria configured for intelligence, surveillance, target acquisition and reconnaissance (ISTAR) and airborne early warning (AEW). The companies highlighted HENSOLDT’s MissionGrid and MDOcore systems and said they would advance their collaboration toward operational deployment; the aircraft’s AEW performance remains unproven.
The 2026 World Aviation Festival in Lisbon focused on how artificial intelligence is changing work behind the scenes at airlines. Its highlights centered on three operational areas: aircraft turnarounds, disruption management and airline payments, putting AI’s expanding role in day-to-day airline processes at the center of the event.
Qatar satellite operator Es’hailSat has signed a memorandum of understanding with the Qatar Mobility Innovations Center, a research and innovation center owned by Qatar University, to explore collaboration opportunities in artificial intelligence and related technologies. Es’hailSat announced the agreement Nov. 9.
Shield AI says its Hivemind software enabled two U.S. Air Force Collaborative Combat Aircraft to fly in a multi-ship formation for the first time and perform coordinated beyond-visual-range counter-air tactics. The combat maneuvers were simulated, demonstrating software-enabled coordination between the uncrewed aircraft.
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Multiple collaborative combat aircraft flew together on a joint sortie for the first time, with two Anduril YFQ-44A Fury jets controlled by Shield AI’s Hivemind autonomy software. Separately, the Royal Navy plans to demonstrate Northrop Grumman’s YFQ-48A Talon Blue from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier in 2027 as it develops a future hybrid air wing.
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