What if the same innovations making cars self-driving could also make flying safer, faster, and more accessible? For decades, aviation has been bound by the limits of human workload, urban congestion, and safety concerns. But now, a new era is dawning—one where autonomous technologies may redefine how we travel in the skies.

In this episode of Full Tech Ahead, host Amanda Razani sits down with Sapan Shah, Senior Director of Product Management at Honeywell Aerospace. With years of experience leading product innovation, Sapan is at the forefront of building the “brains and muscles” of autonomous flight—from sensors and avionics to certified systems that prioritize trust and safety. Together, they unpack the opportunities, challenges, and revolutionary potential of autonomous aviation, from urban air taxis to reducing pilot workload.

If you’ve ever wondered:

• Will we really see air taxis in our lifetime?
• What makes autonomy in aviation safer—not riskier?
• How close are we to fully automated flights?

TIMESTAMPS: 

[00:00] Introduction to Sapan Shah and Honeywell Aerospace
[04:30] Defining Autonomy in Aviation and Why It Matters
[09:10] Urban Air Mobility and the Promise of Air Taxis
[13:50] Reducing Pilot Workload Through Assistive Autonomy
[18:20] Certification, Trust, and Safety in Autonomous Systems
[22:45] Comparing Ground Autonomy to Aviation Autonomy
[27:10] Building Public Trust in Autonomous Aviation
[31:00] AI, Data, and Real-Time Decision Making in Flight
[36:20] Challenges and Barriers to Industry Adoption
[41:15] Looking Ahead: The Future of Flight Autonomy

Quotes:

• "Autonomy in aviation isn’t about a sky full of buzzing drones—it’s about structured, trustworthy automation that reduces pilot workload and enables safer, smarter flight.” – Sapan Shah
• “Our vision for air taxis is simple: complete a 100-mile journey in 45 minutes or less. That’s life-changing for anyone stuck in urban congestion.” – Sapan Shah
• “At Honeywell, we build both the brains and the muscles of autonomy—sensors to see, computers to think, and actuators to act—all delivered in a certified, trustworthy way.” – Sapan Shah
• “You can pull a car over if something goes wrong. You can’t do that mid-air. That’s why aviation autonomy demands higher safety margins.” – Sapan Shah

Takeaways:

1. Autonomy is assistive before it’s independent. It starts by reducing pilot workload, not replacing pilots outright.
2. Safety and certification come first. In aviation, trust is built on reliability and compliance—not iteration after launch.
3. Urban air mobility could redefine cities. Air taxis and regional flights will cut congestion and change how we move.
4. Adoption is gradual but inevitable. Autonomy will first support, then eventually transform, the way aviation operates.

Find Amanda Razani on LinkedIn. https://www.linkedin.com/in/amanda-razani-990a7233/