FAA to deploy $875 million AI air traffic management system

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is deploying an AI-powered air traffic management system called SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories). Developed by Air Space Intelligence, the software is designed to analyze airline schedules, weather patterns, airport capacity, and airspace conditions to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they occur.

The SMART system is expected to cost approximately $875 million over a 12-year period. It will initially be rolled out in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area before expanding nationwide. The tool is intended to support air traffic controllers by managing workflows and assisting in decision-making, rather than replacing human control; the FAA maintains that controllers remain responsible for maintaining safe distances between aircraft.

This deployment is part of a broader, multi-billion dollar effort to modernize aging air traffic infrastructure and address chronic staffing shortages within the agency. While the SMART contract is valued at $875 million, the total cost floor for the FAA's wider air traffic control modernization program is estimated at approximately $26.2 billion, according to various federal sources and the Government Accountability Office.