AI Pilot Training Chatbot

A comprehensive AI-powered chatbot for pilot training, built with OpenAI GPT-4 and a comprehensive FAA knowledge base.

Features

• Comprehensive Knowledge Base: 1,931 documents from official FAA sources including:

  • FAA Regulations (FARs)
  • Airplane Flying Handbook
  • Instrument Flying Handbook
  • Aviation Instructor's Handbook
  • Aeronautical Information Manual (AIM)
  • Private Pilot ACS
  • Instrument Rating ACS
  • Commercial Pilot ACS
  • Flight Instructor ACS
  • Advisory Circulars

• AI-Powered Responses: Uses OpenAI GPT-4 to provide accurate, contextual answers

• Source Citations: All responses include references to official FAA materials

• Professional Interface: Clean, pilot-focused chat interface

• Feedback System: Rate responses to improve the system

Architecture

• Backend: Flask API with OpenAI integration and SQLite vector database
• Frontend: React.js with modern UI components
• Knowledge Processing: Advanced text chunking with tiktoken for optimal retrieval

Setup Instructions

Prerequisites

• Python 3.8+
• Node.js 14+
• OpenAI API Key

Backend Setup

1. Navigate to the backend directory:

   cd backend

2. Create and activate virtual environment:

   python3 -m venv venv
   source venv/bin/activate  # On Windows: venv\Scripts\activate

3. Install dependencies:

   pip install flask flask-cors openai numpy requests beautifulsoup4 PyPDF2 tiktoken python-dotenv

4. Set your OpenAI API key:

   # Edit .env file and add your API key:
   OPENAI_API_KEY=sk-your-actual-key-here

5. Build the knowledge base (optional - pre-built version included):

   python pilot_training_scraper.py

6. Start the backend server:

   python pilot_backend.py

7. Load the knowledge base:

   curl -X POST http://localhost:5001/api/ingest \
        -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \
        -d '{"file_path": "pilot_training_knowledge_base.json"}'

Frontend Setup

1. Navigate to the frontend directory:

   cd frontend

2. Install dependencies:

   npm install

3. Start the development server:

   npm start

4. Open your browser to: http://localhost:3000

Usage

Once both servers are running, you can:

1. Ask questions about pilot training topics
2. Get detailed explanations with FAA source citations
3. Explore regulations, procedures, and ACS requirements
4. Receive accurate, up-to-date aviation information

Example Questions

• "What are the weather minimums for VFR flight?"
• "How do I log cross-country time?"
• "What are the private pilot certificate requirements?"
• "Explain the four forces of flight"
• "What's required for a biennial flight review?"

API Endpoints

• GET /health - Health check
• POST /api/chat - Main chat endpoint
• POST /api/ingest - Load knowledge base
• POST /api/feedback - Submit feedback
• GET /api/stats - System statistics

Cost Information

• Estimated monthly cost: $5-15 for moderate use
• Embedding model: text-embedding-3-small ($0.02 per 1M tokens)
• LLM model: gpt-4o-mini ($0.15 per 1M input, $0.60 per 1M output)

Contributing

1. Fork the repository
2. Create a feature branch
3. Make your changes
4. Add tests if applicable
5. Submit a pull request

License

MIT License - see LICENSE file for details.

Disclaimer

This chatbot is for educational purposes only. Always consult official FAA publications and your CFI for authoritative guidance on aviation matters.