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FAA's new SMART air traffic tool reroutes 180 flights, cutting delays: Duffy
Fox News • • business
Key Points:
- The FAA's new AI-supported air traffic management tool, SMART, has rerouted nearly 180 flights carrying about 24,000 passengers in six weeks, reducing average flight times by over 10 minutes and saving nearly 80 gallons of fuel per flight.
- SMART integrates 200 data streams, including weather and traffic flow, to help air traffic controllers identify more efficient routes and anticipate congestion before it occurs, enhancing fuel efficiency and reducing delays.
- The system improves weather-related airspace management by enabling more precise routing around storms, rather than blocking large airspace sections, thus minimizing disruptions caused by severe weather.
- SMART does not replace human controllers but provides data-driven recommendations validated by aviation specialists before being implemented by local air traffic control facilities.
- Initially deployed in the National Capital Region and select southeastern centers, the FAA plans to expand SMART nationwide to improve flight predictability, reduce delays, and ease controller workload at the busiest U.S. airports.
