GoKawiilFAA to deploy $875M AI system called SMART to ease air traffic shortage
The FAA plans to roll out SMART, a cloud-based AI platform built by Air Space Intelligence, to help air traffic controllers manage workflows and flight routing amid an ongoing staffing shortage. The system analyzes airline schedules, weather, airport capacity and airspace conditions to predict traffic flows and flag potential conflicts before they happen, at a cost of $875 million over 12 years, starting in the Washington, D.C. area before wider rollout.
GoKawiil's interpretation of the reporting above, not reported fact.
Air traffic control has faced chronic understaffing and outdated technology, raising safety concerns and contributing to flight delays nationwide. Leaning on AI to predict conflicts and optimize routing signals a shift toward automation as a stopgap while the FAA pursues slower fixes like hiring and infrastructure modernization, though it also raises questions about reliability and oversight of AI in safety-critical systems.
- FAA will spend $875 million over 12 years on the SMART AI platform from Air Space Intelligence.
- SMART analyzes weather, schedules, and airspace data to predict and prevent air traffic conflicts.
- The rollout begins in Washington, D.C. before expanding, alongside separate FAA hiring and modernization efforts.
Source: techcrunch.com — Lucas Ropek, 2026-09-17
Published there as: “The FAA’s plan to fix air traffic? $875M worth of AI”
Read the original report → The summary and analysis above are GoKawiil's own, written from reporting by the source above. Facts and quotes belong to the original publisher.