FAA launches SMART AI system to centralize air traffic data and aid flight planning
Based on · First reported
Sources
- The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration announced on 21 September that its new SMART AI platform can centralize up to 200 data flows, including weather patterns, flight routes, traffic flow and controller staffing metrics, and will send recommendations to regional tower controllers and other ATC facilities.
- Developed by Air Space Intelligence under an $875 million contract, SMART is based at the FAA Air Traffic Control System Command Center in Virginia and has been used in limited airspace around Washington, D.C., such as Ronald Reagan National, Dulles International and Thurgood Marshall International airports; the FAA stresses that the system cannot replace controllers, that all recommendations are reviewed by staff, and that local ATC managers may accept or reject them.
Why it matters
Airlines have voiced concern that SMART could increase cancellations and rescheduling as they try to avoid bottlenecks.
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