Lawmakers ask FAA to pause AI tool used for air traffic in Washington area
More than two dozen lawmakers asked the FAA on 13 October to pause a new AI tool in Washington-area airspace, citing missing safety evaluations and training. The Transportation Secretary and FAA Administrator defended the tool.
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The story, neutrally told
Mixed · 2More than two dozen lawmakers asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) on Tuesday 13 October to pause the use of a new AI tool in the Washington area that assists air traffic controllers, citing safety concerns. CNAN “More than two dozen lawmakers on Tuesday asked the Federal Aviation Administration to pause the use of a new AI tool in the Washington area to assist air traffic controlle” Read at CNA ↗ The Jerusalem PostRC “More than two dozen lawmakers asked the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to pause the use of a new AI tool in the Washington area to assist air traffic controllers, citing safety concerns.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Centre · 1The lawmakers, including Democratic Representatives April Delaney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Don Beyer, wrote that they were concerned about the FAA pilot project "as we have not seen any safety evaluation and testing reports, nor have we been made aware of any efforts to train aviation safety personnel on how best to use the tool." CNAN “as we have not seen any safety evaluation and testing reports, nor have we been made aware of any efforts to train aviation safety personnel on how best to use the tool.” Read at CNA ↗ Right · 1The letter, also signed by Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Kweisi Mfume, says the signers are "deeply concerned about the integration of any AI-enabled system into air traffic control systems, where decisions are literally a matter of life or death," and seeks an answer by 19 October. The Jerusalem PostRC “We are deeply concerned about the integration of any AI-enabled system into air traffic control systems, where decisions are literally a matter of life or death," said the letter that was also signed by Senator Chris Van Hollen and Representatives Jamie Raskin, Raja Krishnamoorthi and Kweisi Mfume.”“The letter seeks an answer by Oct. 19.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1Ocasio-Cortez said on Tuesday, "Air traffic control leaves zero margin for error," as she called for the pause. The Jerusalem PostRC “"Air traffic control leaves zero margin for error," Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday, calling for the pause.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1According to Reuters, carried by the Jerusalem Post, the FAA began using the software-based tool last month. It uses predictive analytics to improve how flights are managed, and the FAA is using it first in the airspace around Washington, D.C., with plans to expand gradually to other parts of the country. The Jerusalem PostRC “Last month, the FAA began using a new software-based AI tool that uses predictive analytics to improve how flights are managed.”“plans to gradually expand it to other parts of the country.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1In June the FAA awarded an $875 million, 12-year contract to Air Space Intelligence for the system, called Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories (SMART). It analyses airline schedules, weather, airport capacity, airspace conditions and operational constraints to predict traffic flows and identify potential conflicts before they occur. The Jerusalem PostRC “The FAA in June awarded an $875 million, 12-year contract to Air Space Intelligence for a system dubbed Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories, or SMART” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Right · 1The US Department of Transportation said the system uses over 200 data streams, creates data visualisations and produces scheduling recommendations for operations experts to consider passing along, and does not involve active management of planes in the sky. The Jerusalem PostRC “The system uses over 200 data streams, creates data visualizations, and produces scheduling recommendations for operations experts to consider passing along” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy called it essentially "dumb AI" on Fox Business and stressed that controllers, not the software, remain in charge. FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier that the tool "is going to be transformational" and that better decision-making tools would produce better decisions. The Jerusalem PostRC “Air traffic controllers will always control the airspace. This is just giving additional tools for controllers to better manage weather and other issues," Duffy said”“"It's going to be transformational," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier.” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗ Right · 1The plan is to use it first to reschedule flights cancelled because of bad weather, then to expand to other tasks such as strategically coordinating schedules and trajectories before aircraft depart. The Jerusalem PostRC “The plan is to initially use it to more effectively reschedule flights that were canceled due to bad weather” Read at The Jerusalem Post ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre1 outlet
- Framing
- A short news item focused on the lawmakers' request and their stated safety concerns.
- Emphasis
- The letter's complaint of no safety evaluation, testing reports or training.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not include the FAA's and Transportation Department's responses, the contract, the tool's function or the 19 October deadline.
- For example
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“citing safety concerns” — CNA
Right1 outlet
- Framing
- Reuters copy carried by the Jerusalem Post that sets the lawmakers' letter alongside the contract, how the tool works and officials' defence of it.
- Emphasis
- Gives space to Duffy's and Bedford's remarks and the Transportation Department's statement that the tool does not actively manage aircraft.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Does not report any FAA response to the letter's specific points on missing safety evaluations and training.
- Charged language
- “dumb AI”“transformational”
- For example
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“FAA Administrator touts benefits of AI in airspace management” — The Jerusalem Post
What every side reports
- More than two dozen lawmakers asked the FAA on 13 October to pause a new AI tool used to assist air traffic controllers in the Washington area.
- The letter cites the lack of safety evaluation and testing reports and of training for aviation safety personnel.
- Democratic Representatives April Delaney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Don Beyer were among the signers.
Where accounts differ
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Whether the tool poses a safety risk
- Centre
- Lawmakers say no safety evaluations, testing reports or training plans have been shown to them.
- Right
- Duffy says controllers remain in charge and the tool only adds support. The Transportation Department says it does not involve active management of planes.
Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez person
Co-signed the letter and called for a pause, saying air traffic control leaves no margin for error.
“"Air traffic control leaves zero margin for error," Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday, calling for the pause.” — The Jerusalem Post
Federal Aviation Administration organisation
The FAA, through Administrator Bryan Bedford, calls the tool transformational. The Department of Transportation says it does not actively manage aircraft, and Secretary Duffy says controllers remain in charge.
“"It's going to be transformational," FAA Administrator Bryan Bedford told Reuters earlier.” — The Jerusalem Post
“Air traffic controllers will always control the airspace.” — The Jerusalem Post
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre1 article
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CNAN ·
Lawmakers ask FAA to pause use of new AI tool in DC-area flight management
Neutral Brief report of the lawmakers' request and the letter's safety and training concerns.
Right1 article
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Lawmakers ask FAA to pause use of new AI tool in Washington-area flight management
Neutral Reuters copy carried by the Jerusalem Post, balancing the letter against official defences and background on the contract and the tool.
- 13 Oct 19:01 First CNAN Lawmakers ask FAA to pause use of new AI tool in DC-area flight management
- 13 Oct 23:08 +4h 6m The Jerusalem PostRC Lawmakers ask FAA to pause use of new AI tool in Washington-area flight management
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.
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