FAA Chief Bryan Bedford and Airline CEOs Roll Out SMART Software

Federal Aviation Administration Administrator Bryan Bedford met with major airline chief executives to discuss the initial rollout of the predictive-analytics software system, SMART, aimed at reducing flight delays and cancellations across the national airspace system, according to an Investing.com report.

The gathering brought together leaders from American Airlines, United Airlines, Delta Air Lines, and Southwest Airlines to review deployment schedules for the Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories platform, which begins rolling out this month.

"It's going to be transformational," Bedford told reporters in late August. "We'll make much better decisions if we have better decision-making tools."

How the SMART Air Traffic System Works

The FAA awarded an $875 million, 12-year contract to Air Space Intelligence in June to develop and deploy the SMART system. The software utilizes data analytics to examine airline schedules, changing weather patterns, airport capacity constraints, airspace conditions, and operational bottlenecks.

By processing these variables in real time, the technology is designed to predict traffic flows and identify potential airspace conflicts before they disrupt scheduled operations. The software aims to modernize air traffic management tools that have historically relied on manual coordination during periods of high congestion.

Industry Response and Projected Impact

Airline leadership expressed cautious optimism regarding the new predictive platform's ability to smooth out operational disruptions caused by severe weather and high-volume travel days.

"Using SMART to open airspace intelligently has the potential to significantly reduce delays and cancellations during weather events," said United CEO Scott Kirby.

The technological push coincides with regulatory pressure on carriers operating in congested hubs. In April, the agency ordered airlines at Chicago O'Hare International Airport to cut 300 daily flights through October 2027 due to ongoing congestion concerns, followed in June by extended flight cuts at Newark Liberty International Airport and other New York-area facilities.