FAA Must Pause Use of AI-Based SMART ATC System, Lawmakers Say

Democratic legislators said they are ‘deeply concerned’ about the new air traffic control tool’s rollout in the Washington, D.C., area.

Jack Daleo

Wednesday, October 14, 2026 at 12:12 PM ET

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Edited By:

Travis Tingle

The AI-powered SMART system is undergoing an initial evaluation in the Washington, D.C. region ahead of a planned broader deployment. [Credit: Shutterstock]

Key Takeaways:

A group of 25 lawmakers has urged the FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation to pause the deployment of the AI-based Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) system.
Lawmakers expressed "deep concern" and cited an "egregious lack of transparency" regarding SMART's safety evaluations, testing, and integration into air traffic control, where decisions are "literally a matter of life or death."
They highlighted that air traffic controllers and their union (NATCA) were not involved in the system's design, testing, or training, demanding answers on accountability if SMART contributes to an unsafe situation, especially amidst existing controller shortages.

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A group of 25 lawmakers has urged the FAA and U.S. Department of Transportation to pause its use of the AI-based Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) system until officials provide more details on how it works and how it will be integrated into air traffic control.

Democratic lawmakers from both houses of Congress wrote to FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford and DOT Secretary Sean Duffy that they are “deeply concerned about the integration of any AI-enabled system into air traffic control systems, where decisions are literally a matter of life or death,” in a letter dated October 9.