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The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration began rolling out a new artificial intelligence tool that the agency said will help identify spots of potential congestion early on to help curb flight delays and cancellations.
The FAA began using this new tool, known as SMART, in a “limited mode” Monday in the airspace around Washington, the U.S. Transportation Department said in a news release. The government said it plans to gradually expand it to other parts of the country.
According to the Transportation Department, SMART is able to synthesize 200 data streams, ranging from weather patterns and flight paths to controller staffing metrics, to pinpoint areas where congestion or weather could snarl travel. It then offers recommendations for fixing the problems ahead of time.
All of SMART’s recommendations are reviewed by FAA staff, and local leadership at air traffic control facilities can choose to accept or pass on them, the Transportation Department said.
“SMART will slash those frustrating delays, reduce stress on air traffic controllers, and lower travel prices,” Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy said in a statement.
FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford said during a briefing Monday that the agency will work with airlines on any changes to flight paths. Airlines initially raised concerns about the speed at which the FAA was moving but became more comfortable with where things were headed after seeing the tool a few weeks ago, Bedford said. The gradual rollout will also help ensure everybody understands the new capability, he added.
The AI tool is part of the FAA’s broader effort to modernize its aging air traffic control system. So far, the regulator has received $12.5 billion from Congress for the project but it has said it’ll need more to finish the overhaul.
On Monday, air travel to the New York area was severely stymied by an equipment outage at an air traffic facility in Philadelphia, which officials said underscores the need for modernization.
The regulator in June tapped startup Air Space Intelligence Inc. to help the agency deploy SMART. ASI beat out larger competitors Palantir Technologies Inc. and Thales SA to win the FAA contract.
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