The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Monday rolled out a new artificial intelligence-supported tool designed to spot potential air traffic problems before they happen and reduce delays and cancellations, as Representative Don Beyer called for the system to be suspended. The Virginia Democrat said airlines had reportedly been “privately panicking” over the rollout of the system, called SMART, claiming that air traffic controllers were not adequately consulted or trained. The FAA describes SMART as a tool that makes recommendations to aviation specialists, who can then decide how to address potential problems.
Leadership of major airlines, however, have publicly backed SMART. The CEOs of United, Delta, American and Southwest praised the system in statements released by the FAA, citing its potential to reduce delays, improve efficiency and better manage the nation’s airspace. Delta Air Lines CEO Ed Bastian similarly said the company “fully supports” the FAA’s efforts to modernize the National Airspace System through investments in technologies that can “enhance operational efficiency, improve situational awareness, and help reduce congestion,” including SMART.
Newsweek reached out to the FAA and National Air Traffic Controllers Association. The Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories centralizes 200 data streams into one platform, according to the FAA. This includes weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing metrics.
The system is designed to combine data to show where planes are going, how much traffic the system can handle and possible snags. The FAA says SMART is designed to address those issues before they arise, with the goals of reducing flight delays and cancellations, optimizing airspace, making operations more predictable and lowering ticket prices. SMART analyzes demand, weather and airspace constraints to identify potential congestion and help officials plan ahead.
The goal is to help the FAA anticipate air traffic disruptions rather than react to them. The system was launched in a limited mode Monday around Washington, D.C., with plans to eventually expand across the country. Agency staff will review the system’s recommendations, while local air traffic control leadership can choose whether to accept or pass on its scheduling suggestions.
Beyer, who represents a Northern Virginia district that includes Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, criticized the rollout in light of last year's fatal accident. Beyer added that residents in the region are “still uncertain” about air safety following the deadly midair collision near DCA in January 2025. An American Airlines regional jet and a U.S.
Extract — continue reading at the source.
