FAA: SMART Expanded to 22 Centers Without Union Consultation

Key Takeaways

1The FAA is deploying SMART in the 22 control centers and maintaining human validation of the recommendations.

2The pilot program conducted over Washington, DC, has, according to the FAA, redirected 180 flights with a 10-minute savings and nearly 80 gallons saved per flight.

3The controllers' union, which was not consulted, states it cannot assess the impact on the profession.

Why it matters : The national rollout of an AI decision-support tool in air traffic control comes with claimed operational gains by the FAA and human safeguards, but without prior involvement of the main union.

The U.S. federal authority is deploying its AI tool SMART across the 22 control centers, building on a pilot conducted over Washington, DC. The FAA promises time and fuel savings while maintaining human validation. The controllers' union, not involved in the design or testing, does not comment on the impact for the profession.

Human Oversight and Lack of Union Consultation

The recommendations made by SMART are not applied automatically: a team of FAA specialists based in Washington, DC, validates them before passing them on to the various control facilities. The agency clarified that the tool does not replace the role of air traffic controllers and cannot take control of an aircraft. On the ground, local controllers retain the discretion to accept or reject these recommendations. The main air traffic controllers' union stated that it was not involved in the design or testing of the system and added that it was not consulted during its implementation. Not participating in the process, it claims it cannot comment on its effects on the workforce. This union represents over 15,000 members.

Claimed Gains After the Washington, DC Pilot

Since its activation over Washington, DC, on September 21, the FAA claims that SMART has redirected 180 flights, with an average of 10 minutes saved and nearly 80 gallons of fuel saved per flight. The agency also shared an example where the tool recommended a shorter and faster route for a cargo flight heading to Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport. In this case, the FAA did not identify the flight and did not provide details on SMART's potential assistance to passenger flights.

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National Scope: 22 Centers Involved and Initial Expansions

On November 10, the authority announced the use of SMART in the airspace of the 22 control centers across the country, aiming to reduce delays, lower fuel consumption, and enhance the travel experience. The FAA hopes to replicate the results observed over the capital on a national scale. The government has expanded the use of the tool to the entire national airspace system. Following the pilot in Washington, DC, coverage has been extended to the centers in Atlanta, Jacksonville, and Miami.

Operation: Aggregated Data and Sequencing Recommendations

SMART is described as a cloud-based system that aggregates information from weather models, flight trajectories, traffic flows, and controller staffing metrics to predict air traffic patterns. It is designed to provide planning recommendations, determine optimal routes, and sequence aircraft arrivals.

Program Cost and Airline Support

The FAA estimates the cost of SMART at $875 million. Airline executives have expressed their support for the initiative. Among them are Ed Bastian, CEO of Delta Air Lines, and Robert Isom, CEO of American Airlines.