FAA Deploys Palantir AI Tool to Cut Runway Close Calls

The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is deploying Palantir Technologies’ AI platform, Foundry, to analyze runway-incursion data and flag emerging safety risks. Funded with nearly $4 million from the FY 2027 budget, the project follows incidents that prompted lawmakers to allocate resources through the One Big Beautiful Bill Act. Foundry aggregates incident reports, weather data, live aircraft tracking and sources to identify patterns that may precede close calls.

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The March 2026 collision of an Air Canada Express jet with a fire truck at LaGuardia Airport renewed focus on runway safety. A January 2025 mid-air collision over Washington, D.C., that killed 67, earlier prompted the FAA to expand data-driven safety programs. Officials now describe a shift from reactive responses to “proactive” and “predictive” risk management.

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• 2026 runway incursions: 3 (including LaGuardia crash).

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• 2025: 2 reported, with four serious non-catastrophic events.

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• 2024: 2 incursions; 2023: 11, the highest in a decade.

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• Pilot deviation accounts for 61 % of incursions (2025).

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• FY 2027 AI project budget: nearly $4 million.

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FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said the agency has “expanded its use of the platform” after the 2025 Washington disaster and now receives feeds for Foundry. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said AI “supports—not replaces—human decision-making” in air-traffic management. Deputy Administrator Chris Rocheleau called Palantir a “great partner” and noted refinements. The FAA used Foundry’s alerts to ban parallel landings at San Francisco International Airport. Palantir declined comment.

The Independent

Former NTSB chair Robert Sumwalt warned that “over-reliance on AI” could be hazardous and stressed the need for human oversight. NTSB Chair Jennifer Homendy noted the system “depends on programming.” Analysts say Foundry detects recurring patterns but cannot predict singular, multi-factor events like the LaGuardia collision.

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• “The long-term goal is to get to predictive,” — FAA official, senior aviation safety manager (anonymous)

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• “It was pretty impressive,” — Jennifer Homendy, NTSB Chair

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• “It will enable the FAA to gain greater awareness of real and potential safety risks,” — Robert Sumwalt, former NTSB chair

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• “we continue to get more refined on how we use that tool.” — Chris Rocheleau, FAA Deputy Administrator

The Independent

Sources disagree on the SMART contract status: one report lists Palantir among three bidders for a $12 billion award, while another says no decision has been made and Air Space Intelligence may be favored. The FAA has not disclosed Foundry spending, and the runway-incursion database remains incomplete, with several incidents still under investigation.

The Independent

The FAA will prioritize upgrades at high-traffic airports including LaGuardia, Chicago O’Hare, and Ronald Reagan Washington National. The Surface Awareness Initiative, using ADS-B, is slated for 220 airports. A SMART contract award is expected later this year, potentially expanding AI-driven route optimization and further reducing runway close calls.

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