Key facts
- The FAA has launched an AI tool called SMART to manage air traffic.
- The tool uses real-time data to inform controllers and optimize flight paths.
- SMART aims to decrease landing and departure wait times.
- It will initially be deployed at three airports serving the Washington D.C. and Baltimore area.
- A human will always manage U.S. airspace, according to FAA officials.
- The system will undergo a 90-day testing period before broader implementation.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has launched its new AI-powered tool, the System for Managing Airspace with Real-time Data (SMART), aimed at improving the efficiency of air traffic control. The system, which uses real-time data to better inform controllers and suggest subtle flight path adjustments, is intended to reduce landing and departure wait times, particularly during adverse weather conditions or when multiple flights have overlapping landing times.