The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has begun deploying a new artificial intelligence-powered system designed to identify air-traffic congestion before it turns into widespread flight delays and cancellations.
Called SMART — Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories — the system is initially operating in a limited capacity around the Washington, D.C. area, with plans for a gradual expansion across the United States. The technology is part of a broader effort to modernize the U.S. air-traffic management system and make flight scheduling more predictive rather than reactive.
SMART brings together approximately 200 data streams, including airline schedules, weather conditions, flight paths, traffic flows, airport capacity and air-traffic-controller staffing information.
Its AI-supported system analyzes the data to identify where congestion or other operational problems could develop and allows aviation specialists to make recommendations before those problems occur.
The FAA says the system can help identify alternative routes, adjust flight scheduling and make better use of available airspace, particularly when bad weather or heavy traffic reduces capacity. Instead of waiting for congestion to build and then responding to delays, SMART is designed to give the FAA a view of potential problems hours, days and even weeks ahead.
The first deployment is focused on the airspace serving the Washington region, including Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore/Washington International Airport.
The FAA plans to gradually expand the system to other parts of the country after the initial rollout. Importantly, SMART does not replace air-traffic controllers or take control of aircraft. Its recommendations are reviewed by FAA personnel, while local air-traffic leadership can decide whether to accept or reject scheduling suggestions.
The FAA expects SMART to help reduce delays by identifying bottlenecks before they spread through the wider aviation network. A disruption at one major airport can affect flights, aircraft and crews hundreds or thousands of miles away. By anticipating these problems and adjusting routes or schedules earlier, the agency hopes to reduce cascading delays and improve the use of available airspace.
The system is being developed with Air Space Intelligence (ASI) under a broader FAA modernization effort. In June, the FAA awarded ASI a contract covering SMART and the related Flow Management Data and Services platform. The FAA says the technology could ultimately help create a more predictable U.S. air-travel system, but its effectiveness will depend on how well its predictions and recommendations perform as deployment expands.
For now, SMART marks a shift toward using AI and predictive data analysis to address air-traffic problems before they become delays for passengers.
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