The Federal Aviation Administration unveiled an $875-million software tool designed to optimize airspace management, prompting concerns from some critics regarding the technology.
The SMART System and Its Operational Scope
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy introduced the software tool, known as the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART). Developed by Boston-based Air Space Intelligence (ASI), the system aggregates data from more than 200 sources to assist traffic managers with flight routing and scheduling across the country. Phillip Buckendorf, co-founder and CEO of ASI, emphasized that the technology calculates optimal flight paths by analyzing weather, congestion, turbulence, winds, and runway closures. The software functions similarly to Flyways AI, another ASI platform currently used by airline flight dispatchers at carriers such as Alaska Airlines.
Human Oversight Versus Machine Automation
Despite integrating predictive analytics into federal infrastructure, software developers and transportation officials maintain that human operators retain ultimate authority over all tactical separation and routing decisions. Buckendorf clarified that the system performs math and computations while leaving final judgment strictly to human traffic managers. “The machine never makes a decision. It’s a human operator, the air traffic manager,” Buckendorf said. Duffy echoed this operational boundary, stating that the technology provides better foresight so specialists can make informed decisions rather than relying on legacy software.
Congressional Pushback and Industry Skepticism
The initial pilot rollout across three major airports in the Washington, D.C., area drew sharp criticism from lawmakers representing the region. Representative Don Beyer (D-Va.), whose Northern Virginia district encompasses Ronald Reagan Washington National Airport, issued a statement condemning the deployment. “The FAA should not use my constituents as guinea pigs for an unproven AI air traffic control system,” Beyer said, adding that rushing a system holding public safety in its hands is inappropriate. Meanwhile, former FAA air traffic controller Dave Riley described the software as a positive step but cautioned that it fails to address underlying operational crises, such as severe staffing shortages and mandatory overtime schedules.
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