FAA AI air traffic control system faces safety concerns

Lawmakers and aviation experts are raising concerns regarding the deployment of the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART), a new AI-driven air traffic control system. The system is scheduled for a soft launch at busy airports in the Washington, D.C. metro area.

Representative Don Beyer has called for a suspension of the technology, stating that the FAA should not use constituents as “guinea pigs” for an unproven system. Adding to these concerns, former air traffic controller Todd Sheridan Yeary warned of the risks of AI “hallucination,” where the system might produce inaccurate or unverified data. Yeary emphasized that in the dynamic environment of air traffic control, there must be a reliable human override to manage changing conditions and ensure safety.