FAA to spend $875 million on AI system to tackle air traffic control crisis
The US Federal Aviation Administration is rolling out an AI program called SMART to help air traffic controllers manage routes and avoid airspace conflicts, at a cost of $875 million over 12 years.
The Federal Aviation Administration has long struggled with a nationwide shortage of air traffic controllers. The causes behind the shortage vary, but the agency has signaled it is actively seeking innovative ways to address the problem.
One such solution is a new artificial intelligence software program, valued at $875 million, intended to help controllers manage their workflows and navigate flight routes more safely. According to The Wall Street Journal, the FAA will soon launch SMART — short for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories — an automated system designed to streamline air traffic operations.
How the system works
According to a program description, SMART is a cloud-based platform that enhances the FAA's existing air traffic management systems. It uses AI to analyze airline schedules, weather conditions, airport capacity, airspace conditions and operational constraints, allowing it to predict traffic flows and flag potential conflicts before they happen.
The software was developed by a company called Air Space Intelligence. Its rollout will cost the government $875 million over a 12-year period. SMART will first be deployed in the Washington, D.C. metropolitan area before expanding to other regions of the country.
Earlier this year, the FAA also announced a new hiring initiative it said would help eliminate the agency's longstanding staffing shortage. The government is separately pursuing a broader effort to modernize the nation's aging air traffic control infrastructure.
