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 contractor for its Strategic Management of Airspace Routing Trajectories (SMART) system, an AI-based platform designed to predict future airspace conditions.
SMART aims to predict weather, traffic, and other conditions up to six months in advance, enabling airlines to optimize planning, reduce fuel usage, and shorten flight times.
Air Space Intelligence (ASI) is reported to be the likely winner of the contract, a significant achievement against larger bidders like Palantir and Thales, leveraging its specialized expertise.
This initiative is a core component of the DOT's Brand New Air Traffic Control System (BNATCS) project, requiring substantial additional funding beyond the initial allocation to fully develop and deploy.

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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.”