Democrats ask for AI air traffic control tool pause until questions answered
The lawmakers want safety testing, training and oversight disclosed before the FAA expands the tool beyond Washington-area airports.
- On Tuesday, more than two dozen lawmakers urged the Federal Aviation Administration to pause the new SMART tool in the Washington-area, citing safety concerns and lack of testing data.
- The Strategic Management pilot launched September 21, 2026, at Reagan National, Washington Dulles, and BWI to predict traffic flows and improve air traffic management in the region.
- Representative April McClain Delaney, a Maryland Democrat, questioned accountability for the $875 million system and noted lawmakers had not seen safety evaluation reports or training documentation for aviation personnel.
- Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy dismissed the software as "dumb AI" on Tuesday, emphasizing controllers remain in charge, while officials must respond by October 19.
- FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford previously called the technology "transformational," with plans to expand beyond the Washington-area using about 200 data streams to optimize flight scheduling.
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12 Articles
Democrats ask for AI air traffic control tool pause until questions answered
A group of House Democrats are asking the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause its new AI air traffic control tool until their questions are answered. The group of lawmakers – led by Rep. April McClain Delaney (D-Md.) and included D.C.’s nonvoting delegate Eleanor Holmes Norton – sent a letter to Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy and FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford regarding the rollout of the AI-enabled Strategic Management of Airsp…
House Democrats seek watchdog review of AI-powered air traffic control systems
The inclusion of AI capabilities has “rightfully raised serious questions about its reliability and safety benefits,” House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Democrats wrote in a letter to GAO.
Lack of security testing and training triggered alarms for technology that could spread to more airports
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