FAA plans $875 million AI system to help manage US air traffic

In short: The FAA says it will launch an AI-powered software system called Smart, costing $875 million over 12 years, to help air traffic controllers manage routes and workloads.

What happened

The US Federal Aviation Administration, or FAA, is preparing to roll out a new software program called Smart. Smart is short for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories.

According to a Wall Street Journal report cited by TechCrunch, the program will cost $875 million over a 12-year period. The FAA plans to launch it first in the Washington, D.C., area, then expand it to other regions.

The FAA says Smart will use AI, which is computer software that looks for patterns in large amounts of information, to help predict where air traffic could get crowded. The FAA’s program summary says it will consider things like airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, and airspace conditions. The goal is to identify potential conflicts before they happen, a bit like a GPS app warning you about traffic ahead and suggesting a better route.

Why it matters

Air traffic controllers help keep planes safely spaced apart, like crossing guards for the sky. The FAA has been dealing with a shortage of controllers, and it is also trying to update older air traffic systems. If Smart works as intended, it could help controllers plan ahead, reduce last-minute changes, and lower the risk of close calls when skies are busy.

Source: TechCrunch AI