The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has been confronting a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers and is exploring technological solutions alongside workforce measures. One such initiative is an $875 million artificial intelligence software program intended to help controllers manage workflows and navigate flight routes more safely, according to reporting by The Wall Street Journal.
About SMART
The program is called SMART, short for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories. A one‑page description characterizes SMART as “a cloud‑based platform system that enhances existing FAA air traffic management systems.” The platform uses AI to evaluate airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions, and operational constraints to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they occur.
SMART was developed by a company named Air Space Intelligence. The Wall Street Journal reports the government will spend $875 million on the software over a 12‑year period. The FAA plans to roll out the system first in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area and then expand it to other regions.
Context within FAA efforts
Earlier this year, the FAA announced a new hiring plan it described as “bold” and aimed at eliminating the longstanding staffing shortage. Separately, the government is engaged in a broad effort to modernize the nation’s aging air traffic systems.
Why this matters
Introducing SMART signals the FAA’s interest in AI and cloud platforms as part of a multi‑pronged approach to capacity and safety challenges in air traffic management. If effectively integrated with human controllers and existing infrastructure, such tools could improve traffic forecasting and reduce conflicts. However, the technological program is being pursued alongside, not instead of, hiring and system modernization efforts.
