The Federal Aviation Administration is set to test an artificial-intelligence system designed to cut U.S. flight delays, according to officials. This initiative reflects a broader push to integrate advanced technologies into the national airspace system and to modernize traffic-management practices.
Named SMART for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, the tool merges schedule data, weather forecasts, airport capacity and airspace constraints to spot congestion before aircraft push off. By combining these inputs, it can generate a holistic view of potential pressure points across the network.
Initial operations will launch this fall, with a limited 90-day trial focused on the Washington area. The initial test is expected to focus on recommendations rather than allowing AI to independently control aircraft movements.
How the system works
SMART creates a shared, real-time picture of airline timetables, meteorological conditions and runway availability. This integrated model enables early identification of routes that may become overloaded.
Predictive algorithms then flag likely bottlenecks, giving managers time to tweak routes or departure slots. Human oversight remains the cornerstone of safety protocols, even as the AI proposes alternative flight paths or timing changes to keep traffic flowing.
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The FAA says the system could recommend better flight paths, alter timing at key points along a route and help traffic managers recover more quickly when thunderstorms, congestion or other events reduce available capacity. Air traffic controllers will remain responsible for maintaining safe aircraft separation.
Airlines’ involvement
Airlines have sought clarity over how route recommendations will be generated and how the system will affect their own operational planning during periods of disruption.
Expected benefits
The FAA says earlier decisions could help prevent delays from cascading across the national network. A thunderstorm affecting one major hub can currently create disruption hundreds or thousands of miles away as aircraft and crews fall out of position and connecting passengers miss onward flights.
By identifying potential bottlenecks before departure, SMART is intended to improve on-time performance, reduce unnecessary fuel burn and use existing U.S. airspace more efficiently. The agency also expects the technology to create additional capacity as airline traffic continues growing.
If the early deployment performs as intended, SMART could become a much larger part of the FAA’s air traffic management system, making the Washington test an important early indication of whether artificial intelligence can materially reduce one of the biggest frustrations in U.S. air travel.