Overview: According to materials released by the ICAO at the Asia-Pacific Regional Meeting, the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) issued a global survey on the status of artificial intelligence (AI) in aviation on January 13. The original deadline for responses from member states and relevant organizations was February 28, but it was later extended to March 31. Meanwhile, working documents for the 42nd ICAO Assembly revealed that the industry standard ARP6983/ED-324 is expected to be released in 2026, with the goal of obtaining recognition from various civil aviation authorities as an acceptable method of compliance for regulations.
According to materials released by the ICAO at the "Resilient Operation of Critical Aviation Infrastructure and CNS" special meeting in the Asia-Pacific region, the survey letter, numbered AP004/26 (CNS), was issued on January 13th. The original deadline for responses was February 28th, which was subsequently extended to March 31st. The questionnaire is divided into sections and focuses on eight questions. The first section covers basic information, such as whether member states or organizations have established dedicated departments, committees, or contact points responsible for aviation AI affairs. The second section focuses on the current status of AI applications, including the extent to which AI has been or is planned to be used in the country's aviation sector, and the specific aviation areas involved (multiple choices allowed).
Judging from the way the survey was designed, its purpose is to conduct a preliminary assessment: first, to understand the extent of AI application and the level of organizational preparedness in each member country, and then to provide a basis for subsequent global coordination on standards and guidelines.
According to the working document (A42-WP/489) of the 42nd ICAO Assembly, the industry standard ARP6983/ED-324 is expected to be released in 2026. Its objective is to gain recognition from civil aviation authorities as an acceptable means of compliance with regulations. The document also outlines the "way forward" within the ICAO context: AI presents significant opportunities for improvement in both onboard and ground systems, and can further enhance safety and improve performance beyond existing standards. At the operational level, AI is expected to assist flight crews, reduce the time spent on non-value-added tasks, and create space for complex decision-making, thereby improving the efficiency and effectiveness of flight operations.
How can member states participate? Completing the survey is the most direct way. The deeper context is the adjustment of ICAO's overall strategy: according to documents submitted by the ICAO Secretariat to the Regional Civil Aviation Directors' Meeting, innovation has been listed as a high-priority enabling element in the "ICAO Strategic Plan 2026-2050" and the "2026-2028 Business Plan." The "ICAO Innovation Policy," approved by the Council, provides a framework for related work.
In other words, from preliminary investigations and standard setting to strategic planning, AI is simultaneously playing a role in both the technical and policy aspects of the ICAO.
By setting both the deadline for the survey and the target year for the publication of the standard to 2026, ICAO has established a rather tight schedule: it is simultaneously gathering data from member states and working to develop industry standards. This "assess first, then establish rules" approach is practical, but it also places demands on the quality of responses from member states – the seemingly simple questionnaire with eight questions will directly affect the starting point for global coordination, depending on how accurately it is completed. For industry organizations, this is also a low-cost opportunity to observe the direction of international regulations.