Demonstrating how AI can transform flights into safer, more efficient, and predictable operations

In the quest to break records and push the boundaries of aviation, Thales is transforming how flight operations are managed. Through a partnership with The Perlan Project, Thales’s AI has not only optimised the flight path of the Perlan 2 glider but also contributed to safety and efficiency during extreme conditions, all while providing real-time insights to pilots.

The Perlan 2 glider, operated by The Perlan Project, faced a monumental challenge: navigating through complex stratospheric conditions to reach altitudes beyond 60,000 feet. Thales’s AI technology, built on the Genetic Fuzzy Tree (GFT) principles, helped anticipate changes in weather and optimised flight plans, allowing the glider to fly safely through the Polar Vortex’s turbulent conditions. By offering both explainability and provable safety adherence, Thales’s AI provides an unprecedented level of precision and decision support to the flight team.

AI for flight: a key advance for the Perlan project

Thales’s AI provides a critical advantage in ensuring safer flight operations, particularly for the Perlan 2 glider. Using complex environmental models and real-time data, Thales’s AI optimised flight paths and predicted the best altitude for the glider’s ascent through the stratosphere. This AI-powered process helps reduce risk and improve efficiency by forecasting weather and adjusting plans in real time.

As a result, the Perlan 2 was able to reach 60,300 feet during the 2023 flights, proving the potential of AI to revolutionize flight management.

The Power of Fuzzy AI

Thales’s AI approach, based on Genetic Fuzzy Tree (GFT) principles, offers a unique advantage. Unlike traditional “black box” AI models, Thales’s AI provides transparency and provable safety adherence. According to Nick Ernest, Thales’s AI Chief Architect, this technology is not only capable of optimizing flight plans but also guarantee that safety protocols are followed at every step of the journey.

By leveraging a combination of simulated glider flights and environmental models, the AI can predict the safest and most efficient flight paths, adapting to real-time weather and atmospheric conditions.

Optimised Connectivity for Seamless Communication

In partnership with FlytLink, Thales’s AI ensured that the Perlan 2 glider maintained optimal connectivity during its flights. By integrating AI-powered insights into the flight’s communication system, Thales enabled real-time updates for pilots on the ground. This continuous data stream guarantee pilots were always informed of necessary adjustments to achieve their altitude goals.

The combination of AI and seamless connectivity contributed to an uninterrupted, smooth flight experience, even at record altitudes.

Paving the Way for the Future of Stratospheric Flights

As the Perlan Project pushes toward its ultimate goal of 90,000 feet, AI will continue to play a crucial role. Thales’s technology will help further refine flight predictions, optimize energy use, and increase safety as the team tests new boundaries in aerospace engineering.

The success of the 2023 flights has proven that AI, combined with human expertise, forms a powerful team that can conquer even the most challenging atmospheric conditions.