The Federal Aviation Administration has expanded its $875 million SMART system to cover all 22 air traffic control centers across the United States. This cloud-based platform integrates data on weather, flight paths, traffic flow, and controller staffing to suggest optimal routes and arrival sequences.
Since its initial deployment in the Washington, DC area on September 21, the system has rerouted 180 flights. The agency reports that these adjustments saved an average of 10 minutes and nearly 80 gallons of fuel per flight. Following the DC launch, coverage was extended to centers in Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Miami.
Despite the expansion, the FAA maintains that SMART is a decision-support tool rather than an automated control system. Human specialists in DC validate all recommendations before they reach local controllers, who retain the final authority to accept or reject the system's suggestions.
The National Air Traffic Controllers Association, representing over 15,000 members, stated it was not involved in the design or testing of the technology. The union noted it cannot comment on the system's impact on the workforce. The FAA previously cited support from the CEOs of Delta Air Lines and American Airlines.
