The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration has begun using a new software system that applies predictive analytics to flight management, Reuters reported on September 21.
The FAA said the tool is initially being used in airspace around Washington, D.C. and will be expanded gradually to other parts of the United States. The agency says the system is intended to improve operational decision-making and help reduce flight delays.
In June, the FAA awarded Air Space Intelligence an $875 million contract covering 12 years for the system.
The rollout is part of a broader effort to modernise air-traffic operations using software and data analysis. Predictive systems can help planners anticipate congestion and adjust flight flows, but their performance will depend on operational integration, data quality and how controllers use the information.
The FAA announcement confirms deployment has begun; it does not yet establish how much the technology will reduce delays nationwide.
The programme is an operational technology project rather than an autonomous replacement for air-traffic controllers.