Washington Dc Airspace

FAA to deploy $875M AI air traffic control system SMART starting in Washington DC

The FAA is rolling out SMART, an AI tool that analyzes airline schedules, weather, and runway capacity to flag potential conflicts in advance, with an initial deployment in Washington DC's airspace beginning Monday. The project carries a price tag exceeding $875 million, part of a broader Trump administration push to modernize air traffic control following several high-profile aviation incidents.

futurism.com · 2026-09-19

FAA to pilot $875M SMART AI system at Washington DC airports

The FAA plans to launch its SMART AI tool as early as September 21 to advise air traffic controllers managing the three major Washington, DC-area airports. The system analyzes airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, and airspace conditions to forecast traffic flows and flag potential conflicts, serving as a limited first phase before a planned nationwide rollout across all US airspace.

arstechnica.com · 2026-09-18