Surf Air Mobility Joins FAA SMART Program to Test Airspace Planning Tools
Key Points
- Surf Air Mobility signed an agreement to participate in the FAA’s Strategic Management of Airspace, Routes, and Trajectories, or SMART, program.
- As a Participating Airspace User, the company will provide operational data, subject-matter experts and feedback to the FAA’s SMART Innovation Lab.
- SMART is designed to identify potential scheduling conflicts before departure and improve coordination between airlines and air traffic control on the day of a flight.
- Surf Air will draw on its Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines operations and its SurfOS software platform, which is powered by Palantir Technologies (PLTR).
- The announcement does not describe a procurement contract or disclose any payment to Surf Air.
Surf Air Mobility (NYSE: SRFM) has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the Federal Aviation Administration to help evaluate new airspace-management tools through the agency’s SMART program. The company will contribute experience from its scheduled airline operations and its SurfOS data infrastructure as the FAA tests ways to spot flight conflicts earlier and coordinate routes more effectively.
What the FAA SMART Program Does
SMART is part of the FAA’s broader Brand-New Air Traffic Control System initiative. Its two tracks address different stages of a flight:
- SMART Schedules examines schedules, weather, airport capacity and airspace conditions months to days ahead of departure to flag potential conflicts.
- SMART Trajectories supports coordination between airlines and air traffic control on the day of travel, from pre-departure through arrival.
The FAA’s goal is to give participants a shared, data-driven picture of airspace conditions so they can address problems before flights depart.
How Surf Air Will Participate
Surf Air will assign specialists in network planning, flight performance engineering, dispatch and flight operations to the SMART Innovation Lab. It will also supply operational data and feedback to help refine the program’s scheduling and trajectory models.
The company said its experience operating Southern Airways and Mokulele Airlines gives it direct insight into the planning challenges SMART addresses. It also cited SurfOS, its AI-enabled operating system for Part 135 aviation, as a source of relevant technical experience. SurfOS is powered by Palantir Technologies (PLTR).
Why the Selection Matters for SRFM
Participation gives Surf Air a role in the FAA’s evaluation of air-traffic-management tools and aligns with its effort to develop SurfOS for Part 135 and private aviation. It also fits the company’s broader plans in scheduled flights, on-demand charter and future electric passenger service.
For investors, the distinction is that Surf Air has been selected to participate in an evaluation. The announcement does not say the FAA will purchase SurfOS, award Surf Air a commercial contract or generate revenue from the SMART program.
