The Federal Aviation Administration is launching an AI-powered air traffic management system in the Washington, D.C., region as part of a broader modernization push.
The software, known as SMART — Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories — is designed to reduce flight delays and improve rerouting when disruptions occur.
The system initially supports air traffic across Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport.
SMART ingests airline schedules alongside variables including weather conditions, runway capacity, and operational constraints to anticipate traffic patterns before problems arise.
The tool surfaces potential conflicts and congestion earlier, giving air traffic controllers more time to respond to developing situations effectively.
Air Space Intelligence, the company behind the technology, secured an $875 million, 12-year government contract to build SMART alongside a related companion system.
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy touted the new tool, noting it has been three decades since the FAA implemented meaningful upgrades to its core software systems.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford confirmed the agency plans to roll SMART out on a wider national scale following an initial 90-day testing period in the Washington region.
During that testing window, controllers will use the system strictly as a decision-making aid rather than a full replacement for existing air traffic management processes.
Full deployment will eventually include capabilities such as spacing out arrival times and planning flight routes several days in advance, pending successful validation.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association voiced support for the technology, with union chief Nick Daniels emphasizing that the upgrades are “not competition for the controller workforce.”
Daniels’ comments were aimed at dismissing automation concerns that have circulated among aviation workers as the FAA accelerates its technology modernization agenda.
Major carriers also expressed support for the SMART system, signaling broad industry backing for the FAA’s push to bring artificial intelligence into everyday air traffic operations.
