Federal officials announced plans to launch an artificial intelligence-powered air traffic management system in the Washington, D.C., area as early as Monday, September 21, 2026. The software, titled Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (Smart), represents the initial stage of a federal effort to modernize U.S. aviation infrastructure.
The Smart system was developed by Air Space Intelligence under an $875 million, 12-year government contract awarded earlier in 2026. The software is designed to analyze flight schedules, weather forecasts, airport runway capacity, and operational limits to predict traffic flows and identify potential bottlenecks. A centralized office for the program is scheduled to open at the Department of Transportation headquarters on Monday.
In its current phase, the tool will serve as a decision-support system to assist the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and commercial airlines during operational disruptions. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford stated during Senate testimony earlier this year that the current management of traffic is "chaotic" and that the FAA needs to take a more active role in management rather than relying on airline scheduling. Future versions of the software are intended to manage flight arrival intervals and map routes several days in advance.
The scale of the project is intended to expand from a regional tool to a central intelligence center for the entire national airspace. This transition involves significant coordination between the government and private sector. Representatives for commercial carriers have raised concerns regarding how the automated system will function during intense market competition for peak flight slots. These carriers will have to align their private scheduling data with the federal system, a process that requires ongoing negotiations between the FAA and industry stakeholders.
The initiative also addresses a persistent shortage in air traffic control staffing by using technology to supplement human decision-making. While Airlines for America, a trade group for major carriers, described the software as a way to boost safety and capacity, the full impact on labor needs and daily controller workloads remains to be seen as the rollout expands. Following the initial launch on September 21, the FAA will continue discussions with airlines to resolve coordination challenges. The timeline for expanding the system beyond the Washington, D.C. area was not reported.