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

The Federal Aviation Administration has been struggling to manage an air traffic control shortage throughout the country. To combat this, the government is introducing an $875 million AI software program expected to help air traffic controllers manage their workflows and more safely navigate flight routes. The program, known as SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories), is a cloud-based platform designed to enhance existing FAA air traffic management systems. Developed by Air Space Intelligence, SMART uses AI to assess airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, and operational constraints to predict traffic flows. The 12-year contract will roll out first in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area before expanding to other regions as part of broader modernization efforts.