FAA Begins Rolling Out AI-Powered Air Traffic Tool, Starting in Washington

The Federal Aviation Administration is preparing to bring its new predictive air-traffic platform, SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories), into live operation for the first time, starting in Washington-area airspace on September 21. SMART is a cloud-based system that pulls together airline schedules, weather, runway capacity, airspace conditions and other operational constraints to forecast traffic flow and flag potential conflicts before they build into delays, with an FAA fact sheet describing it as giving controllers "a shared, data-driven view of the National Airspace before flights depart." The tool uses artificial intelligence to spot congestion and routing conflicts earlier than existing methods allow, then suggests adjustments to departure times, routes or timing at specific en-route points — but the FAA has been explicit that it remains advisory only, with human controllers retaining full responsibility for separating aircraft. The Washington rollout opens a 90-day testing period meant to validate the system's recommendations and build airline confidence before any wider deployment. The platform was built under an $875 million, 12-year contract with Air Space Intelligence, part of a broader Flow Management Data and Services program. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the system helps controllers by "adjusting departure times, routes, and timing" based on its predictions, positioning it as a tool that supports existing staff rather than replacing them.