# FAA may launch $875 million AI program Smart to aid air traffic control, WSJ reports

Digest AI · Policy & Regulation · published 2026-09-17T22:14:59Z · updated 2026-09-18T19:20:50Z

Canonical: https://digestai.news/story/faa-may-launch-875-million-ai-program-smart-to-aid-air-traffic-control

## Summary

The Federal Aviation Administration is exploring an $875 million artificial‑intelligence software initiative called Smart, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Smart – short for Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories – is being built by Air Space Intelligence and is described as a cloud‑based platform that augments the FAA’s existing air‑traffic management tools.

The system is said to use AI to evaluate airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions and operational constraints, then forecast traffic flows and flag possible conflicts before they happen. The rollout will begin in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area and expand to other regions over a 12‑year period. The FAA is also pursuing a new hiring plan aimed at eliminating its long‑standing staffing shortage while modernising aging air‑traffic infrastructure.

## Key points

- FAA plans a $875 million AI system called Smart, built by Air Space Intelligence.
- Smart will analyze schedules, weather, capacity and predict traffic conflicts using AI.
- Deployment starts in Washington, D.C. metro, costing the government over a 12‑year span.

## Why it matters

A large federal AI investment could set a precedent for public‑sector automation, potentially improving flight safety and efficiency while shaping future government AI procurement.

## Sources

1. [The FAA’s plan to fix air traffic? $875 million worth of AI](https://techcrunch.com/2026/09/17/the-faas-plan-to-fix-air-traffic-875-million-worth-of-ai) (TechCrunch AI, 2026-09-17)
2. [FAA tees up $875M AI tool to help manage air traffic congestion](https://arstechnica.com/ai/2026/09/faa-tees-up-875m-ai-tool-to-help-manage-air-traffic-congestion) (Ars Technica AI, 2026-09-18)

## Cite

Digest AI, "FAA may launch $875 million AI program Smart to aid air traffic control, WSJ reports", 17 September 2026, https://digestai.news/story/faa-may-launch-875-million-ai-program-smart-to-aid-air-traffic-control

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