FAA Allocates $875M for 12-Year SMART AI Air Traffic Management Program

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is set to invest $875 million over a 12-year period into the SMART program, an automated software initiative aimed at improving air traffic management. Developed by Air Space Intelligence, SMART is a cloud-based platform designed to enhance existing FAA systems. It utilizes AI to analyze various factors such as airline schedules, weather conditions, airport capacity, and airspace constraints to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they arise. This investment follows the FAA's earlier 2026 announcement of a new hiring plan to address staffing shortages in air traffic control. The implementation of SMART could significantly streamline operations and improve safety in air travel.