signalTechCrunch AI2026-09-18
The FAA’s plan to fix air traffic? $875M worth of AI
The FAA will deploy SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories), an $875M, 12-year cloud-based AI system from Air Space Intelligence, to predict traffic flows and conflicts using airline schedules, weather, and capacity data, rolling out first in the Washington, D.C. area. The program addresses the air traffic controller shortage, complementing a new FAA hiring plan and broader efforts to modernize aging air traffic systems.
- why now
- FAA's $875M AI system DC debut
- topic
- AI Industry Impact
- source
- TechCrunch AI
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