FAA unveils SMART air traffic tool for Washington skies

US Transportation Secretary Sean P. Duffy and Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford have unveiled a new air traffic management tool called SMART. The system is being introduced first in the airspace around Washington, D.C.

SMART, short for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, combines 200 data streams on a single platform. Those inputs include weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing metrics, which are used to generate recommendations on airspace management and flight scheduling.

The tool is designed to help specialists identify congestion and other pressure points before they disrupt operations. It provides a visual picture of traffic levels, available system capacity and areas where weather or bottlenecks may create problems.

Officials described the move as part of a broader overhaul of the US air traffic control system. The Federal Aviation Administration has begun using SMART in a limited mode, with a gradual expansion planned across other parts of the country.

How it works

Air traffic delays often begin before aircraft leave the ground, when flight schedules exceed the practical capacity of airports or nearby airspace. Weather can further reduce available routes, forcing rerouting or temporary closures that add to wider disruption.

The new system is intended to shift those decisions from a reactive model to a predictive one. According to the Department of Transportation and the Federal Aviation Administration, SMART can help planners assess demand, weather and airspace constraints hours, days and even weeks ahead.

The agencies said the tool will not replace air traffic controllers or take direct control of aircraft. Federal Aviation Administration staff review its recommendations, and managers at local control facilities can decide whether to adopt them.

A dedicated air traffic centre is being built with technology partner ASI to support a staged deployment, beginning in the National Capital Region.

Industry backing

The launch drew support from several large US airlines and the main industry trade group. Their comments focused on the system's potential to cut delays and cancellations, especially during periods of poor weather and heavy congestion.

"Thanks to President Trump's leadership, we are already making remarkable progress on building a brand new air traffic control system. But to really improve the flying experience for the American people, we needed to build a 21st century scheduling tool like SMART," said Sean P. Duffy, US Transportation Secretary, US Department of Transportation. "By fundamentally reshaping how we manage our airspace and preventing problems before they happen, SMART will slash those frustrating delays, reduce stress on air traffic controllers, and lower travel prices. The Trump Administration is committed to making flying hassle-free and affordable again."

Bedford linked the new software to wider investment in physical infrastructure.

"Thanks to the leadership of President Trump and Secretary Duffy, we are moving at record speed to build the modern air traffic control system America needs," said Bryan Bedford, FAA Administrator, Federal Aviation Administration. "Combining SMART with our ongoing hardware upgrades gives us the tools to cut flight delays, optimize traffic, and keep airspace capacity across the country open-all while maintaining our gold standard of safety."

United Airlines Chief Executive Officer Scott Kirby said the airline believed the system could have a material effect during weather-related disruption.

"United believes that using SMART to open airspace intelligently has the potential to significantly reduce delays and cancellations during weather events. If it works as we think it can, it will do more to reduce delays and cancellations than anything that's happened in decades," said Kirby. "We are excited to partner with the FAA to realize the potential benefits for our customers and employees."

Delta Air Lines Chief Executive Officer Ed Bastian said the carrier was involved in the development process.

"Delta fully supports the FAA's efforts to modernize the National Airspace System through investments in technologies that can enhance operational efficiency, improve situational awareness, and help reduce congestion, including the SMART initiative," said Bastian. "We appreciate the FAA's collaborative approach and are actively engaged in the development process. As implementation begins, we look forward to continuing to work closely with the FAA and industry partners to ensure these tools deliver meaningful benefits for our people, our customers, and the broader aviation system."

American Airlines Chief Executive Officer Robert Isom also welcomed the move while stressing execution.

"We applaud Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford for their efforts to leverage technology to make the airspace more efficient and safer," said Isom. "We are working closely with the FAA on their ATC modernization efforts and programs like SMART, which when done thoughtfully and methodically will offer enhanced benefit to the traveling public."

Southwest Airlines Chief Executive Officer Bob Jordan pointed to the system's early promise.

"I'm encouraged by the early work we have seen on the FAA's new SMART system. It has the real potential to more efficiently manage the nation's airspace and reduce flight delays and cancellations for our customers," said Jordan. "We look forward to continuing our collaboration with Secretary Duffy and Administrator Bedford to move the new technology forward."

Airlines for America Chief Executive Officer & President Chris Sununu said, "The United States has the largest and safest airspace in the world. The FAA SMART initiative is finally making sure we will have the best flight management tools as well. Its potential to strengthen safety, increase capacity and improve efficiency will have a direct positive effect on American travelers and the shipping public, reducing delays and cancellations across the country. We're just in the initial stages, but it's one of the most exciting and bold initiatives taken on by the FAA in decades."

The SMART launch sits alongside a wider federal modernisation effort that, according to the Department of Transportation, includes USD 12.5 billion for telecommunications lines, radios, radars and electronic flight strips. The department also said it has recruited 4,000 controllers into the pipeline in the first 18 months of the Trump administration, while total tower staffing has reached about 11,000, the highest level in a decade.