FAA tees up $875M AI tool to help manage air traffic congestion
Summary
The FAA plans a nationwide rollout of an AI-based tool (SMART) to help air traffic controllers manage congestion, starting in the DC area. The $875M, 12-year contract with Air Space Intelligence includes a predictive AI layer atop a new Flow Management Data and Services backbone, with goals to reduce fuel burn and improve on-time performance, while raising questions about governance and accuracy as deployment expands.