FAA to deploy $875 million AI system to tackle air traffic controller shortage

The US Federal Aviation Administration has long struggled with a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers and has said it is actively seeking innovative solutions to the problem. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, one such solution is a new AI-driven software program called SMART, short for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories.

How the system will work

SMART is described as a cloud-based platform designed to enhance the FAA's existing air traffic management systems. The software will use artificial intelligence to analyze data such as airline schedules, weather conditions, airport capacity, airspace conditions, and other operational constraints. The goal is to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they occur, easing the workload for air traffic controllers.

The system was developed by a company called Air Space Intelligence, and its deployment will cost the government $875 million over a 12-year period. The software will first launch in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area before gradually expanding to other regions across the country.

Broader context

This move is part of a wider FAA strategy to address its long-standing staffing shortage. Earlier this year, the agency announced a new hiring plan it described as capable of fully eliminating the persistent shortfall. At the same time, the government continues a broader effort to modernize the nation's aging air traffic control infrastructure.