Full Breakdown
Lawmakers Push FAA to Halt AI-Assisted Air-Traffic Tool in Washington Region
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Request to Pause SMART Deployment
In early October, more than two dozen members of Congress sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford urging the agency to suspend the use of a new artificial-intelligence system called Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories (SMART) in the Washington, D.C., airspace. The lawmakers, including Representatives April Delaney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Don Beyer, Jamie Raskin, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Kweisi Mfume, said they have not seen safety-evaluation reports, testing data, or training plans for aviation-safety personnel. The letter asks the FAA to provide a response by mid-October and to explain who would be held accountable if a recommendation from the system contributed to an incident.
Background and System Details
The FAA awarded a 12-year, $875 million contract to Air Space Intelligence for SMART, a software-based tool that applies predictive analytics to airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions and operational constraints. According to the Transportation Department, the system ingests roughly 200 data streams and generates visualizations and scheduling recommendations for controllers and operations experts. It does not control aircraft directly nor replace air-traffic controllers. Limited operations began in September at Ronald Reagan National Airport, Washington Dulles International Airport, and Baltimore/Washington International Airport, with the agency planning a gradual national rollout after an initial 90-day evaluation.
Official Statements & Responses
Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy described SMART as “essentially ‘dumb AI’” and stressed that controllers remain in charge of the airspace, calling the tool an additional aid for handling weather and congestion. The U.S. Department of Transportation reiterated that SMART provides only recommendations and does not involve active management of aircraft in the sky.
Verbatim Quotes
- “Air traffic control leaves zero margin for error,” — Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
- “I’m calling on the FAA to pause this rollout, show us the safety testing, and explain who is accountable when something goes wrong,” — McClain Delaney