FAA Deploys AI-Powered Air Traffic System at Washington-Area Airports

The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has deployed an AI-powered system known as SMART in the Washington, D.C. area to improve air traffic management and reduce flight delays. The system entered limited operation on Monday, September 21, initially covering airspace serving Ronald Reagan Washington National, Washington Dulles International and Baltimore/Washington International Thurgood Marshall airports.

SMART, which stands for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, brings together approximately 200 data sources on a single platform, including weather conditions, flight routes, traffic flows, airport capacity and air traffic controller staffing. The AI-powered system analyses the data to help identify potential congestion and operational issues in advance and generate alternative air traffic management options.

The FAA says SMART will not replace existing air traffic controllers or directly control aircraft. Recommendations generated by the system are reviewed by air traffic management specialists, while managers at local air traffic control facilities retain the authority to accept or reject them.

The FAA expects SMART to help identify potential delays caused by weather and airspace congestion before they occur, allowing operations to be managed more proactively. Following its deployment in the Washington area, the system is expected to be gradually expanded to other regions across the United States. The FAA signed a contract with Air Space Intelligence in June 2026 as part of the development of SMART and the broader modernisation of its air traffic management systems.