Merlin announced Thursday that it has completed the third Stage of Involvement review for two components of its Merlin Pilot autonomous flight system.
The Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand reviewed the platform’s Flight Control Computer, which directs the aircraft’s flight path, and the Automated Communication System, which interprets spoken air traffic control instructions and generates responses. The communications system can convert instructions involving heading, altitude and airspeed into commands for the flight-control system.
Software Verification
The third stage, or SOI 3, review examined whether the software had been tested and verified against requirements established earlier in the certification process. Merlin completed SOI 1 in 2023, when regulators accepted its software-planning documents, and announced completion of SOI 2 for the flight-control computer in October 2025.
Certification work is currently being conducted through CAA New Zealand, but also in coordination with the FAA under a bilateral aviation safety agreement. The arrangement allows the New Zealand authority to lead the certification program while the FAA participates in the review for possible U.S. validation.
AI Communications
Merlin also closed an issue paper that addresses the artificial intelligence and machine-learning technology used for natural-language processing in the automated communication system. According to the company, Merlin and CAA New Zealand have agreed on the evidence regulators will require to evaluate those functions.
The Part 23 program is intended to support autonomous operation from takeoff through touchdown rather than provide only pilot-assistance features. Completion of SOI 3 represents another software-review milestone and does not constitute final certification of the Merlin Pilot system.
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