FAA To Deploy AI Air Traffic Tool SMART From Monday
The FAA will begin implementing its new AI-based SMART system as a decision-support tool for air traffic management starting Monday, with a full nationwide
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) will start deploying a new artificial intelligence system called SMART as early as Monday. The Strategic Management of Airspace Routes and Trajectories software is part of an $875 million contract awarded to Air Space Intelligence and aims to modernize U.S. air traffic control.
SMART is designed to analyze flight schedules, weather forecasts, airport runway capacities, and operational limits. Its primary function is to predict traffic flows and identify potential congestion well in advance. The system will initially serve as a decision-making support tool during complex operational disruptions, according to the FAA.
System Function and Rollout Plan
The first phase involves opening a centralized program office at the U.S. Department of Transportation headquarters in Washington, D.C. The FAA stresses that SMART is not intended to replace human air traffic controllers. Instead, it will act as an advisor to support complex decision-making. Future iterations of the system are expected to manage flight arrivals and intervals and plan aircraft mapping routes days in advance.
A full nationwide rollout of the software is scheduled by the end of 2028. The system is expected to help with proactive planning by predicting traffic conflicts more than 45 days in advance. It will recommend small changes to flight times to reduce delays and provide airlines and controllers with a digital view to improve coordination.
Industry Context and Concerns
The introduction of SMART aligns with a broader push, noted in the source report, to modernize aging U.S. aviation infrastructure. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford addressed the need for structural change earlier this year. He stated, “The way we manage traffic today is chaotic, and we can do better.”
The overall industry has raised several concerns about how the automated system will operate. These concerns are amid ongoing intense market competition for coveted peak flight slots at major airports. As part of the transition, the FAA has already held talks with commercial airlines regarding schedule alignment.
Support and Assurance
Despite operational questions from some airlines and industry advocates, the new technology has been welcomed by groups like Airlines for America. They expect the software to provide a significant boost to safety and expand overall airspace capacity while improving operational efficiency.
The U.S. Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and the relevant union have emphasized that humans will remain in charge of air traffic control. The SMART program is framed solely as a support tool to provide data and suggestions, not to make final decisions.
