NAFA member David G. Mayer, law partner in the Global Aviation Group at Shackelford, McKinley & Norton, LLP, shares his latest article about the use of AI in aircraft deals.
Use AI cautiously and assess its output.
I am having fun using artificial intelligence (AI) in my professional and personal life, watching it comb the Internet, dig up data, and synthesize it for me.
Having used AI in actual aircraft deals and disputes, I find it a little scary how much it can accomplish in its infancy and the dangers it poses. The age of AI is here to stay, and it behooves us to at least understand it generally, if not use it.
AI can generate market research, draft reports and agreements, summarize mountains of data, and analyze or calculate pertinent metrics. In my legal practice, AI has helped me with research, summarizing articles and legal analysis, improving or correcting drafting, and flagging inconsistencies or errors in aircraft purchase agreements (APAs) and other documents. As its use expands, AI may lower transaction costs. It is not a panacea, but it can undeniably be a useful tool.
AI Conundrum
AI may save you time and improve your productivity, but it makes mistakes. That’s no secret. For me, AI lacks judgment; provides debunked, incorrect, or flawed analysis; and makes subtle or obvious errors I would rather not spend more time validating or correcting.
I haven’t yet encountered “hallucinations,” meaning the generation of incorrect, misleading, or nonexistent content. Recently, an experienced lawyer, who believed ChatGPT produced a “bulletproof” case summary, submitted it to a New Mexico court. ChatGPT did hallucinate: the summary contained nonexistent witnesses and fictional testimony. Reacting to his admitted “stupidity,” the court held him in contempt, fined him, and initiated an ethics review.
Before the New Mexico case, on July 29, 2024, the American Bar Association issued Formal Opinion 512, stating that there is no “AI exception” to professional responsibility when using generative artificial intelligence (GAI). This implied warning doesn’t apply only to lawyers. Anyone who uses GAI or AI (AI) must tap into these systems judiciously and not depend on the results without due diligence. In short, distrust and verify AI, but don’t forsake it, because it will improve with more time.
This article was originally published by AINsight on September 11, 2026.