FAA tees up $875M AI tool to help manage air traffic congestion

The FAA is preparing to deploy SMART, an AI-assisted system that forecasts air traffic flows and flags possible conflicts using information such as schedules, weather, airport capacity, and airspace conditions. Its initial rollout is planned for the three major Washington, DC-area airports, before any wider expansion across US airspace. SMART is intended to give the FAA, airlines, and operators a common picture of conditions so they can coordinate routes and departure times, reducing fuel use and delays and helping flights recover from disruptions. It will provide alternative route information through existing FAA systems, not change controller or airline procedures. The tool is part of an $875 million, 12-year contract with Air Space Intelligence, which also includes a replacement for the FAA’s central flow-management system. The company says its existing Flyways AI platform already supports management of more than 40 percent of US air traffic.

The limited launch is presented as a prudent way to test the system before introducing its uncertainties at national scale. Important details remain unclear, including which AI models SMART uses, whether its initial scope is restricted to aircraft at 24,000 feet and above, and what evidence will justify expanding it. Aviation safety adviser Philip Mann says tests should assess real workloads and poor-quality data, and clarify responsibility when forecasts fail. The rollout also comes amid aging air-traffic equipment and a persistent controller shortage, compounded by staffing disruptions and pressure on the workforce. These conditions raise the stakes: the FAA may expect modernization and AI to ease capacity constraints, but technology cannot erase the safety risks of understaffing, highlighted by the 2025 fatal midair collision near Reagan National Airport.