FAA expands AI advice to manage air traffic congestion across entire US airspace

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) has decided to expand the use of an artificial‑intelligence system called SMART, which provides recommendations to air traffic controllers, to cover the entire United States airspace. The project, costing $875 million, began its pilot phase at Washington, D.C.’s National Airport on September 21 and has since redirected 180 flights. According to the agency, each of those reroutes saved roughly ten minutes of flight time and about 80 gallons of fuel, translating into lower operating costs and reduced emissions.

After what the FAA calls a “successful deployment” in the capital region, the tool will be rolled out to the 22 control centers that manage the country’s air traffic, aiming to cut delays, optimize fuel use, and improve passenger experience. The initiative has the backing of several airline executives, though the union representing air traffic controllers said it was not involved in the system’s design or testing.

This expansion matters because U.S. airspace congestion drives significant economic costs and contributes to the sector’s carbon footprint. More efficient, AI‑assisted control could mean more punctual flights, lower airline expenses, and a smaller environmental impact, benefiting both the industry and its customers.

Read the original article on Ars Technica AI

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