The FAA’s plan to fix air traffic? $875M worth of AI

The Federal Aviation Administration is set to roll out an AI-based air traffic management tool intended to help controllers manage workflows and anticipate routing conflicts. The program, known as SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories), was developed by a company called Air Space Intelligence and is described as a cloud-based platform that augments current FAA systems. According to a one-page readout cited by The Wall Street Journal, SMART applies artificial intelligence to a mix of inputs — including airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions, and operational constraints — to forecast traffic flows and flag potential conflicts ahead of time. The aim is to give controllers and system operators earlier visibility into developing congestion or safety risks so they can adjust operations proactively. The contract is reported to cost $875 million to the federal government over a 12-year period. The FAA plans to introduce the software in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area initially, with subsequent expansion to other regions across the country. The deployment is part of broader modernization efforts at the agency. The initiative arrives against the backdrop of a persistent air traffic controller shortage that has affected operations nationwide. Earlier in the year the FAA announced an aggressive hiring plan intended to address staffing shortfalls, while separately advancing projects to update aging air traffic infrastructure. SMART is one of the technologies the agency is pursuing to mitigate operational pressures and improve traffic management efficiency.