What Happened
Lawmaker Raised Concerns About Unproven Technology Weeks Earlier
U.S. Rep. Don Beyer publicly questioned the safety of the Federal Aviation Administration’s SMART air traffic management system in September, warning that the agency was moving too quickly to introduce artificial intelligence into aviation operations. Beyer’s concerns were raised amid the FAA’s plans to expand the system nationwide, which has now been implemented. The Falls Church News-Press reported that Beyer joined congressional efforts to halt the deployment pending additional testing and oversight, citing concerns about the lack of independent safety testing and air traffic controller training. The FAA has defended the introduction of SMART as part of a broader effort to reduce delays and pressure on the nation’s aviation infrastructure, according to the Falls Church News-Press.