UPDATE 1 — Lawmakers ask FAA to pause use of new AI tool in DC — area flight management

Lawmakers seek answers to series of questions by Oct. 19 SMART system aims to reduce delays through use of AI tool FAA awarded $875 million, 12-year contract for tool in June (Adds comment from USDOT, FAA, more from letter in paragraphs 3-10) By David Shepardson WASHINGTON, Oct 13 (Reuters) — More than two dozen lawmakers asked the Federal Aviation Administration to pause the use of a new AI tool in the Washington area to assist air traffic controllers, citing safety concerns. The lawmakers, including Democratic Representatives April Delaney, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Don Beyer, said in a letter they were concerned with 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." The letter seeks an answer by Oct. 19. "Air traffic control leaves zero margin for error," Ocasio-Cortez said Tuesday, calling for the pause. The FAA last month began using a ​new software-based AI tool ​system that uses predictive ⁠analytics to ​improve how flights ​are managed. "We are deeply concerned about the integration of any AI-enabled system into air traffic contr