The FAA launched an $875 million AI-enabled platform, dubbed SMART, to optimize flight routes and manage congestion, beginning at three airports serving the Washington, D.C., area. The rollout—part of a broader $12.5 billion modernization push—was overshadowed by an East Coast telecom outage tied to a blown circuit and a severed backup fiber line that forced a temporary flight pause. Regulators say the tool won’t replace controllers but will help reduce delays and improve efficiency; airlines praised the move, while the controllers’ union distanced itself and skeptics argued the core issue remains a chronic staffing shortfall. The system, built by startup Air Space Intelligence, represents a high‑profile test of AI in U.S. airspace management.
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