The Federal Aviation Administration is expanding the use of an $875 million artificial intelligence tool called SMART to help manage air traffic across the entire national airspace system. The agency initially rolled out the Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories system for Washington, D.C., airspace in September. According to reports, that initial regional test successfully rerouted 180 flights for average savings of 10 minutes and 80 gallons of fuel per trip, which translates to roughly $345 per flight based on jet fuel rates of $4.31 per gallon. Following that trial, the FAA announced that it would deploy SMART across the airspace of all 22 centers nationwide to reduce travel delays, lower fuel consumption, and improve the overall travel experience for passengers.
The technology integrates weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow, and controller staffing metrics to predict delays and optimize routes. Despite the nationwide rollout, the FAA has repeatedly reassured airlines and the public that the software functions strictly in an advisory capacity and does not affect air safety. A Washington, D.C.-based team of experts validates the software findings before they ever pass on to air traffic control. Human controllers retain the final decision on whether to accept any suggested route adjustments, operating within the same general process as before.
Key takeaways
- The FAA is deploying the $875 million SMART artificial intelligence tool across all 22 centers nationwide.
- The Washington, D.C., airspace test successfully rerouted 180 flights, saving an average of 10 minutes and 80 gallons of fuel per flight.
- Human air traffic controllers retain the ultimate authority to accept or reject the automated routing suggestions.
- Democratic lawmakers and the National Air Traffic Controllers Association have raised concerns regarding limited frontline workforce input and testing.
Industry response and regulatory scrutiny
While airline executives initially expressed apprehension about potential rocky integration or overcompensation for predicted delays, those concerns eased once officials clarified that SMART relies on existing procedures and only generates alternative route information. American Airlines CEO Robert Isom has praised the software system, and an airline industry official described the clarification as a big relief. However, the National Air Traffic Controllers Association noted it was excluded from the design, testing, and implementation phases of the project. Consequently, the union stated it cannot speak to how the software will affect the air traffic control workforce.
Congressional scrutiny has also intensified around the nationwide expansion. House Democrats recently sent a letter to the Government Accountability Office asking for a comprehensive review of the implementation strategy, safety risk management, and performance metrics. Lawmakers pointed to potential risks involving artificial intelligence reliability, including the possibility that the system could hallucinate safety-critical information or improperly interfere with experienced air traffic controllers. Frontline aviation workers reportedly had little to no input into the development process and received limited training during deployment.
Broader aviation modernization efforts
The SMART rollout represents part of a broader push to modernize aging aviation infrastructure. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy has championed the artificial intelligence launch as a method to combat systemic inefficiencies while emphasizing that human managers remain in control of American airspace. Meanwhile, the FAA separately announced plans to eliminate its reliance on 55-year-old floppy disk technology by the year 2028.
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