29th-30th JUNE 2027 – LONDON, UK

Jon F.

Jon F.

  • Technical Director / Chief Engineer
  • Assured Intelligence

Jon has 25 years of experience as an Avionics Systems Architect on military and civilian rotorcraft and fast-jet programmes. From flight testing in Merlin helicopters, to leading the cockpit display upgrade on the RAF Chinook Mk2/2A, to Head of Avionics at Thales UK, a career of systems thinking and infuriatingly meticulous MBSE has culminated in the founding of Assured Intelligence — delivering safety-critical systems engineering across Defence, Autonomy, AI, and Nuclear. He argues that AI governance is the application of established safety-critical engineering principles to a new class of non-deterministic sub-system — augmenting trusted systems, never replacing them. Jon sits on the Steering Committee of the UK PYRAMID Reference Architecture programme and is a member of its Industry Advisory Group.

Sessions

  • Open & Modular Architectures

    Technical Alignment between PYRAMID and FACE Technical Standard

    Avionics is shifting from monolithic systems to open, modular architectures guided by the Future Airborne Capability Environment (FACE) standard. FACE defines common interfaces and data models to enable software portability, reuse, and faster integration across airborne platforms—principles now embedded in UK programmes such as PYRAMID and Team Tempest. While shared compute and software-defined functionality increase flexibility, they also raise challenges in interface control, integration testing, and verification across heterogeneous processors (GPUs, FPGAs, AI accelerators). Emerging technologies like Time-Sensitive Networking (TSN) and FACE I/O Services support deterministic, certifiable communications. This session examines how adopting FACE-aligned open standards delivers technical interoperability, reduced lifecycle cost, and accelerated capability delivery for both industry and government programmes.

  • Panel Discussion: Meeting Certification Standards – Barrier to Entry?

    Panelist

    While certification standards safeguard safety and reliability, their rigidity and escalating costs may deter innovation and small-market participation. Inconsistencies across commercial, military, VTOL, and UAV certification frameworks further complicate compliance. Limited data sharing also hinders assurance for advanced cockpit systems, as more tech is introduced to support the pilot. In the wake of the 737 MAX crisis, stricter oversight—such as CS-25 Amendment 28 and EASA’s conservative stance—has intensified regulatory caution. This panel discussion explores whether adopting DER-like delegated authority frameworks or reverting to simpler, lower-complexity technologies could streamline certification, reduce cost and time, and help sustain innovation without compromising safety, or whether regulators are hindering the industry by over protection.

  • AI/ML and Autonomy in Avionics

    Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Machine Learning (ML) are increasingly integrated into avionics systems and safety-critical environments to enhance capabilities. AI/ML is being used at the aircraft, not just in it, including sensor fusion, target recognition, predictive maintenance, flight control, adaptive mission systems, and autonomous UAVs. EUROCAE WG-114 is formalizing the first AI-specific aviation standard (target release: mid-2026) to support regulatory alignment. WG-132 is concurrently developing joint guidance with SAE for ML-enabled automated aircraft inspections using UAS and robotics. How can AI continue to develop to assist avionics technology developments? How do we develop AI/ML and usage standards, ensuring ED-12C/DO-178C and ED-215/DO-330 compliance, when there is a lack of data?