What Happened
Air Traffic Control Upgrade Raises Concerns Among Controllers' Union
The Federal Aviation Administration has begun deploying its $875 million SMART AI route-advisory system across all 22 air route traffic control centers in the US, aiming to reduce delays, fuel consumption, and improve the travel experience. The system, which has already been tested in the Washington, D.C. area, has rerouted 180 flights, saving an average of 10 minutes and nearly 80 gallons of fuel per flight. However, the controllers’ union has expressed concerns, stating it was not involved in the design, testing, or implementation of the tool. The deployment was first reported by Unknown Source.