The Federal Aviation Administration unveiled its SMART air-traffic planning platform on September 21, describing a system that brings 200 operational data streams into a shared view. The agency says weather, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing information will help aviation specialists anticipate problems and recommend responses.
The project follows a contract announced in June with Air Space Intelligence. ASI described the award as worth $875 million over 12 years. That figure covers two programs: Flow Management Data and Services, or FMDS, and Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, known as SMART. It is not a price attached solely to a standalone chatbot or one software feature.
The FAA describes FMDS as the data foundation for balancing demand against airspace capacity. SMART adds planning capabilities intended to coordinate schedules and routes before departure. In its June announcement, the agency said relevant operational information was spread across multiple systems, making it harder to anticipate bottlenecks.
The September announcement describes a staged rollout over the coming months, beginning in the National Capital Region. It presents the platform as a way for aviation specialists to understand future conditions and make recommendations. That is different from announcing autonomous control of aircraft or a completed nationwide deployment.
Reducing delays and improving recovery from disruptions are stated program goals. The announcements reviewed here describe those intended benefits, rather than establishing measured nationwide results. The practical test will be how the planning recommendations perform as the rollout progresses.