FAA Expands $875 Million SMART AI to 22 Air Traffic Centers Nationwide
Updated
Updated · Ars Technica · Nov 12
FAA Expands $875 Million SMART AI to 22 Air Traffic Centers Nationwide
3 articles · Updated · Ars Technica · Nov 12
Summary
$875 million SMART is now being used across all 22 U.S. air traffic centers after an initial September rollout in the Washington region, expanding AI-based advice for controllers across the national airspace system.
FAA said SMART has rerouted 180 flights since Sept. 21, cutting an average 10 minutes and nearly 80 gallons of fuel per flight, results it wants to replicate nationwide.
The cloud-based system combines weather, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing data to recommend schedules, routes and arrival sequencing.
FAA said a Washington-based team of specialists still validates SMART's recommendations before they reach control facilities, while the controllers' union said it was not involved in designing or testing the system.
Airline executives backed the wider rollout as the agency pitches SMART as a tool to reduce delays, lower fuel use and improve passenger travel.