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FAA Begins Limited Rollout of SMART AI Tool to Predict Airspace Congestion

September 22, 2026 at 02:02 EDT

Policy & Regulation
Sales & Business

The Federal Aviation Administration has begun a limited rollout of Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, or SMART, an AI-supported air-traffic management platform designed to flag congestion and weather constraints before they cascade into delays and cancellations. The first operational use started on September 21, 2026, in airspace around Washington, D.C., as the agency tests whether predictive planning can give traffic managers more time to adjust schedules and routes.

Sep 21, 2026 · FAA

SMART Moves Airspace Planning Earlier

The FAA is testing an AI-supported traffic management tool around Washington, D.C. to spot congestion and weather constraints before they turn into delays.

200

data streams in one operational view

$875M

software and AI contract value

years covered by the award

initial National Capital Region airports

What 200 Streams Look Like

Each block represents 10 streams feeding SMART's planning view.

200

weather, flight path, traffic flow and staffing signals

The goal is earlier warning, not autonomous aircraft control.

Decision Path

Data streams

AI-supported forecast

FAA staff review

Accept or pass

Recommendations can shape schedules and routes, but local leadership decides whether to use them.

Upside

Airlines see a chance to improve efficiency, situational awareness and weather recovery through earlier coordination.

Constraint

The first phase is deliberately limited because the system must earn trust inside established safety procedures.

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