The FAA is deploying SMART, an AI-powered air traffic control system costing $875 million, beginning Monday in Washington, DC airspace. The system analyzes airline schedules, weather, and runway capacity to prevent conflicts and optimize operations, though industry concerns led to a scaled-back rollout using the tool for alternative routing rather than direct flight management.
The FAA's new AI tool SMART for managing air traffic launched this week after weeks of airline industry confusion. The tool will initially operate in a limited capacity at three Washington D.C.-area airports, offering route suggestions to air traffic controllers without changing existing procedures. Industry concerns about extensive AI integration eased after FAA officials clarified the phased rollout approach.