FAA Reportedly Snubs Palantir, Thales for AI-Based Air Traffic Management

Agency said to be close to deciding who will build its Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) platform.

Jack Daleo

Monday, June 15, 2026 at 05:00 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and U.S. Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy discussed the Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) system at an event in Washington, D.C., in April. [Credit: Jack Daleo]

Key Takeaways:

The FAA is nearing a decision on the developer for its AI-based Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) system, with Air Space Intelligence (ASI) reported as the likely contract recipient.
SMART is designed to predict airspace conditions, including weather and traffic, up to six months in advance to help airlines optimize planning and mitigate future disruptions.
The system's primary goal is to enhance efficiency, reduce delays, and lower fuel consumption by organizing air traffic proactively, not for real-time aircraft separation.
Part of the Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) project, SMART requires significant additional funding, with an estimated $20 billion more being sought for its development.

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The FAA may be close to deciding who will build its envisioned Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) system, an artificial intelligence-based platform that could predict airspace conditions months into the future in order to help airlines better plan for demand.

The Air Current, an online aviation news service, on Saturday reported that Air Space Intelligence (ASI)—which claims its Flyways AI system already manages more than 40 percent of U.S. air traffic—is the likely recipient of the contract, citing “multiple people familiar with the selection.” The sources said the award could still change, but an FAA spokesperson said to expect an announcement “soon.”