Photo: Shutterstock The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has begun limited operations of a new AI-supported system designed to help identify airspace congestion, weather disruptions and other potential problems before they lead to flight delays.
Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford unveiled the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, known as SMART, on September 21.
The system brings together around 200 data streams, including weather, flight paths, traffic flows, airport capacity and air traffic controller staffing information, into a shared operational picture.
The goal is to give aviation specialists a clearer view of how demand and available airspace are expected to develop, allowing them to make scheduling and routing adjustments before congestion becomes a larger problem.
The FAA says SMART represents a shift toward more predictive air traffic management. Instead of waiting for capacity problems to develop during the day, the system can analyze expected demand and constraints hours, days and potentially weeks ahead.
That could be particularly useful when bad weather reduces available airspace. By identifying potential conflicts earlier, SMART can help officials consider alternative routes or changes to departure and arrival timing before disruptions spread across the network.
The system is initially being used in a limited mode around Washington, D.C., with the FAA planning a staged expansion to other parts of the country over the coming months.
SMART is not designed to replace air traffic controllers or take control of aircraft. Instead, it operates as a planning layer alongside existing FAA systems.
Its recommendations are reviewed by FAA personnel, while local air traffic control leadership can decide whether to accept or reject suggested scheduling changes.
The technology was developed as part of the FAA's wider modernization programme. In June, the agency selected Air Space Intelligence (ASI) to deploy SMART and related Flow Management Data and Services technology.
The FAA said the systems are intended to help balance traffic demand and available capacity while improving the management of flight routes.
Airlines are also participating in the development of the system. United Airlines CEO Scott Kirby said SMART could potentially reduce weather-related delays and cancellations, while executives from Delta, American Airlines and Southwest have expressed support for the FAA's modernization efforts.
The FAA says potential benefits include better use of existing airspace, reduced fuel consumption and improved on-time performance.
The agency also says more efficient operations could eventually help reduce costs for airlines and passengers, although those outcomes are expected benefits rather than results that have already been demonstrated.
SMART is part of a broader effort to modernize the U.S. National Airspace System, with the FAA also working on new hardware, automation and surveillance technologies for air traffic controllers. The agency says the new tools are intended to work together while keeping controllers responsible for the safe separation of aircraft.