AI Takes a New Role in U.S. Air Traffic Control

Artificial intelligence is beginning to take on a new role in the U.S. aviation system. In September 2026, the FAA introduced a new AI-supported platform designed to help manage air traffic and anticipate potential congestion.

Called SMART (Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories), the system brings together information from more than 200 data sources, including weather conditions, flight paths, traffic levels, and air traffic controller staffing. The goal is to give aviation specialists a broader view of what is happening across the airspace and help them identify potential issues before they develop.

Importantly, SMART is not designed to replace air traffic controllers. Instead, it provides recommendations that can be reviewed and acted on by aviation professionals. The initial rollout began in the Washington, D.C., area, with plans for the technology to expand more broadly over time.

The technology comes as the FAA works to modernize an air traffic control system that relies on a mix of newer and aging infrastructure. Alongside software upgrades, the agency is also working on telecommunications, staffing, and other technology improvements.

For travelers, the potential impact is largely tied to how the technology performs in practice. If predictive tools can help identify congestion or weather-related challenges earlier, they could become another resource for managing disruptions. At the same time, the rollout is still in its early stages, so its longer-term effect on delays and cancellations remains to be seen.

As AI becomes more common across the aviation industry, SMART represents one of the latest efforts to use technology alongside human expertise to manage an increasingly complex airspace.