The US is rolling out a new air traffic control (ATC) system that could lower airfares by making flying more efficient and reducing delays and cancellations.
The AI tool centralises 200 data streams, including weather patterns, flight paths, traffic flow and controller staffing metrics, into one platform. Details of Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories (SMART) were unveiled the same day parts of the existing ATC system were hit by technical problems. Hundreds of flights were affected in the north-east US. The US Federal Aviation Administration says SMART’s AI-supported engine uses predictive data to provide a comprehensive visualisation of where planes are going, how much traffic the system can handle, and where congestion or weather could cause challenges.
. . . No Replacement
Flyers will spend less time waiting on the tarmac, circling above their arrival airport, or dealing with diversions, says the US FAA. Optimised airspace frees up more capacity with more efficient routing around bad weather and congestion. There will be less stress for under-pressure controllers. The FAA says this will lead to lower ticket prices. “When airlines waste less fuel, reduce staff overtime, and have more planes arrive on time, operating costs fall. That means cost savings for consumers.” It adds SMART cannot be used to replace the role air traffic controllers play or take over control of an aircraft.
