To achieve the expected outcomes, all or some of the following should be addressed.

• Trustworthy AI-powered ATM environment. This refers to the the development of advanced AI applications (e.g. supporting automation level 4) for ground or airborne use, with a particular focus on the demonstration of new methodologies for the validation and certification of advanced AI applications that will ensure their transparency, robustness and stability under all conditions. It includes aspects such as explainability, learning assurance, formal methods, testing, licensing, in-service experience and online learning assurance (R&I need: trustworthy AI-powered ATM environment).
• AI for prescriptive aviation. This refers to the development of digital solutions and services leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to demonstrate how AI can be used in a highly automated and safety-critical environment to deliver substantial and verifiable performance benefits while at the same time fully addressing safety concerns and using human skills. AI/ML have great potential for predictions/forecasts under normal circumstances, but further evolution will be needed if they are to be used in the management of abnormal situations: a prescriptive approach will be required to monitor reality and specify precursors indicating possible deviations from what is expected. This covers the exploitation of aviation data hubs. Developments in this area might include, for example, solutions for the detection of abnormal situations and aircraft behaviour (i.e. deviations from what is expected); ML, big data and predictive analysis techniques will make it possible to analyse situations, predict potential aircraft trajectories and detect suspicious aircraft (R&I need: AI for prescriptive aviation)
• Human–AI collaboration. This element will involve the development of digital solutions leveraging state-of-the-art technologies to support aviation actors in a highly automated environment (automation level 4) while ensuring that humans understand what the systems are doing and maintain the right level of situational awareness (R&I need: human–AI collaboration: digital assistants).