The FAA Is Testing an AI-Powered Air Traffic Management Tool

For years, there have been shortages of air traffic control personnel, leading to delays and congestion. To remedy these troubles, the Federal Aviation Administration and the US Department of Transportation are turning to a new tool: AI. 

On Monday, these agencies announced that they’re beginning a trial of the new system, called Strategic Management of Airspace Routes and Trajectories, at three airports around the nation’s capital – Reagan National Airport, Dulles International Airport and BWI Thurgood Marshall Airport. 

This $875 million software overhaul is not a replacement for human air traffic control operators, the DOT said, but is intended to reduce pressure on personnel by predicting delays and cancellations, and providing recommendations to the humans who retain control over flight operations. 

Margaret Wallace, an assistant professor of aviation management at the Florida Institute of Technology, said meaningful action is necessary to address the aging air traffic control infrastructure, and calls to modernize the system have been ongoing – yet unanswered – for years. 

While SMART is an important first step, she says, it “does not eliminate the human element,” and controllers need to remain at the forefront of every stage of implementation. 

“If implemented carefully, however, the technology behind this initiative has the potential to begin a significant transformation in the efficiency and modernization of the US air traffic system,” Wallace said in an email. 

How the SMART system works

It may be alarming to read “artificial intelligence” and “air traffic management” in the same sentence. So let’s unpack what this system actually is before deciding to never get on another flight again. 

Each day, the FAA manages close to 45,000 flights in the US. Even slight delays, changes in weather conditions, and reroutes can lead to airspace congestion and overcapacity. SMART was designed to centralize 200 data streams of flight paths, wind, weather, staffing metrics and more into one platform for a comprehensive overview of what’s happening in the sky and on the ground at airports for better management of these flights.  

From this consolidated data, human controllers can “anticipate demand, weather and airspace constraints and plan hours, days and even weeks ahead,” according to the press release. 

The US DOT says these measures are to upgrade “the FAA from a reactive approach to a predictive one.”

“By fundamentally reshaping how we manage our airspace and preventing problems before they happen, SMART will slash those frustrating delays, reduce stress on air traffic controllers and lower travel prices,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.

Will it actually help? It’s too early to tell, and the union representing air traffic controllers said it was not involved in the program’s development. 

The National Air Traffic Controllers Association said in a statement it “believes any new technology should complement and not replace the experience, training and professional judgment of air traffic controllers who are responsible for the safety of the National Airspace System.”

The system was built by a company called Air Space Intelligence, an aerospace and defense AI company based in the US that has already partnered with the US Air Force, major US airlines (Alaska Airlines, Delta Air Lines and United Airlines) and the Department of Defense. 

In the press release announcing the rollout of the air traffic management system, CEOs from top airlines, including United, Delta, American and Southwest, expressed encouragement over the initiative. 

Still, air traffic experts emphasize the importance of remaining cautious as this new system rolls out. 

“My biggest initial concern is controller training and human-factors integration,” Wallace said. “That is not necessarily a criticism of this particular system; it is a challenge that comes with introducing any significant new technology into a complex, safety-critical environment.

“FAA leadership will need to ensure that implementation and testing are deliberate, that controllers receive adequate training and that appropriate safeguards remain in place throughout the transition,” she said.

The FAA plans to gradually expand SMART to other airports across the country. 

Reporter II

Macy is a writer on the AI Team. She covers how AI is changing daily life and how to make the most of it. This includes writing about consumer AI products and their real-world impact, from breakthrough tools reshaping daily life to the intimate ways people interact with AI technology day-to-day. Macy is a North Carolina native who graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a BA in English and a second BA in Journalism. You can reach her at mmeyer@cnet.com. See full bio