The FAA’s plan to fix air traffic? $875 million worth of AI
In Brief
3:14 PM PDT · September 17, 2026
The Federal Aviation Administration has been struggling to manage an air traffic control shortage throughout the country. The reasons for the shortage are diverse, but the government has made it known that it’s on the lookout for innovative solutions to the problem.
One of those solutions appears to be an $875 million AI software program that is expected to help air traffic controllers manage their workflows and more safely navigate flight routes.
The Wall Street Journal reports that the FAA will soon launch Smart, which stands for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories — an automated software program designed to help streamline air traffic operations.
A one-page readouton the program describes Smart as “a cloud-based platform system that enhances existing FAA air traffic management systems.” It adds that the program uses AI to assess “airline schedules, weather, airport...
Copyright of this story solely belongs to techcrunch.com. To see the full text click HERE
