FAA SMART AI tool may debut Monday for Washington-area airspace

Passengers stand in one of the terminals at Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport on March 16, 2026 in Arlington, Virginia. The airport name's shorthand DCA is seen near the window as two passengers look out at parked aircraft.

Image: Primary

Published Saturday, September 19, 2026 · 1:08 AM EDT

The Federal Aviation Administration's SMART system is set to start advising air traffic controllers on congestion in Washington, D.C., airspace, the first step toward a planned nationwide rollout across the 29 million square miles of U.S. airspace the agency oversees. Government and industry officials told The Wall Street Journal the AI tool could debut for the region's three major airports as soon as Monday, September 21. The FAA says SMART uses AI models to predict traffic flows and flag potential conflicts from airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, and airspace conditions, aiming to cut fuel burn, improve on-time performance, and speed recovery from weather and congestion. Airline officials told Politico their concerns eased after the FAA said the tool would not change controller or airline procedures and would issue alternative route information through existing systems.

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Ars Technica

Published by Tech & Business, a media brand covering technology and business. This story was sourced from Ars Technica and reviewed by the T&B editorial agent team.

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