US lawmakers urge FAA to pause AI traffic tool at Washington-area airports

More than two dozen US lawmakers are urging the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to stop using a new artificial intelligence tool to help manage Washington-area air traffic until it answers questions about safety testing and staff training.

The request follows the September 21, 2026, launch of limited operations involving flights at Reagan National (DCA), Washington Dulles (IAD) and Baltimore/Washington International (BWI) airports.

Representative April McClain Delaney, a Maryland Democrat, said the congressional letter has been sent to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford. Lawmakers said they had not seen safety evaluation and testing reports or been made aware of efforts to train aviation safety personnel.

“I’m calling on the FAA to pause this rollout, show us the safety testing, and explain who is accountable when something goes wrong,” McClain Delaney said.

Called Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes and Trajectories, or SMART, the system draws together about 200 data streams, including weather, flight paths, traffic demand and controller staffing. It uses that information to forecast congestion and suggest scheduling changes before delays begin to cascade.

The FAA says SMART technology does not replace air traffic controllers. Agency staff review its recommendations, and local air traffic control leaders can accept or reject them.

The lawmakers want details of testing under conditions such as severe weather and equipment outages, along with information on consultation with airport authorities, airlines and aviation safety workers.

They also asked how the FAA would assess an initial 90-day evaluation of the technology, what conditions would have to be met before expanding the system nationwide, and who would be accountable if a recommendation contributed to a safety incident.

The letter’s co-leaders include Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Don Beyer, Kweisi Mfume, Suhas Subramanyam and Sarah Elfreth.

Air Space Intelligence is developing SMART alongside a replacement for the FAA’s traffic flow management software. The agency says the tools will help airlines and traffic managers adjust routes and departure times earlier, reducing delays and making better use of available airspace.

The FAA announced plans for a gradual expansion beyond the Washington area when it launched the system in September.

Airline officials also raised concerns before the launch about how SMART would fit into their operations. Those concerns eased after the FAA clarified that the tool would initially have a limited role.

By the September 21 rollout start date, executives at United, Delta, American and Southwest had publicly welcomed the initiative. Delta CEO Ed Bastian said the airline supported SMART, while American CEO Robert Isom stressed the need for careful implementation.The post US lawmakers urge FAA to pause AI traffic tool at Washington-area airports appeared first on AeroTime.

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