What does SMART actually do?

It is a cloud-based system that combines weather, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing data to predict traffic and recommend routes and arrival order.

Do humans still check the AI's suggestions?

Yes. A team of FAA specialists based in DC validates SMART's recommendations before passing them to air traffic control facilities nationwide.

What results has SMART produced so far?

The FAA says it rerouted 180 flights since September 21 in Washington, DC, airspace, saving an average of 10 minutes and almost 80 gallons of fuel per flight.

AI Regulation & PolicyAI Business & IndustryArs Technica AI3m agoNov 13, 2026, 10:00 JST

FAA takes $875 million SMART AI tool to all 22 centers

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3 Key Points

What happened
The FAA said its $875 million SMART system, which predicts traffic and suggests routes, is now used across all 22 centers after rerouting 180 flights in Washington, DC, airspace since September 21.
Why it matters
Airline executives back the tool, but the controllers' union says it was excluded from designing and testing — a gap that could shape how the recommendations are received on the ground.

WHO IT HITSAir traffic controllers and airline flight operations will be working with AI-generated routing and sequencing suggestions nationwide. The union's exclusion from design and testing may affect how controllers trust and apply those recommendations.

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Context & Analysis

The FAA's move takes a tool first tested in the busy airspace over Washington, DC, and applies it to the whole country. The agency credits the system with concrete gains in its initial rollout: 180 flights rerouted, about 10 minutes saved per flight, and nearly 80 gallons of fuel saved per flight. It is now betting those results can be repeated across all 22 centers.

SMART works by pulling together weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing metrics, then recommending schedules, routes and arrival order. The FAA stresses that a human team in DC checks those recommendations before they reach controllers, keeping a person in the loop.

The rollout has drawn a split response. Airline executives have voiced support, while the union representing air traffic controllers says it was not involved in designing or testing the system. How that concern is addressed may matter as the tool moves from a regional trial to nationwide use.

FAQ

What does SMART actually do?: It is a cloud-based system that combines weather, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing data to predict traffic and recommend routes and arrival order.
Do humans still check the AI's suggestions?: Yes. A team of FAA specialists based in DC validates SMART's recommendations before passing them to air traffic control facilities nationwide.
What results has SMART produced so far?: The FAA says it rerouted 180 flights since September 21 in Washington, DC, airspace, saving an average of 10 minutes and almost 80 gallons of fuel per flight.

Ars Technica AIRead Original Article

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