Acclivix Positioning Statement on AI in Aviation Safety
At Acclivix, we see Artificial Intelligence as a powerful extension of aviation safety and not a replacement for sound systems, human judgement, or regulatory accountability.
Aviation operates in a safety-critical, highly regulated environment. We believe that before AI can deliver meaningful value, organizations must first have a functioning, compliant Safety Management System (SMS) and a culture that supports informed decision-making. AI cannot substitute for these foundations - and when introduced too early, it can create false confidence and new, unmanaged risks.
Today’s AI systems are shaped by the quality of the data, structure, and questions they are given. Without proper governance and domain expertise, AI outputs may be incomplete, misleading, or unsuitable for safety-critical decisions. For this reason, Acclivix emphasizes AI-informed insight, not AI-driven authority.
We also recognize the legitimate concerns aviation organizations have around data ownership, confidentiality, and data residency, particularly within the Canadian regulatory context. These considerations are treated as core requirements - not afterthoughts.
Our approach is pragmatic and deliberate:
Establish strong SMS foundations first
Introduce AI as an analytical and decision-support layer
Maintain clear human accountability at all times
Ensure AI use is explainable, auditable, and defensible
When used appropriately, AI can help safety leaders identify patterns, challenge assumptions, and strengthen safety processes that have seen little evolution over the past two decades.
At Acclivix, AI is not a standalone product - it is an integrated part of how we support aviation organizations, elevating insight, strengthening assurance, and helping leaders make better safety decisions in an increasingly complex operating environment.
Currie Russell, A.A.E.
President, Acclivix Inc.
Photo by Daniel Gomez from Unsplash