Aviation systems and certification are complex topics, with myriad vague standards and guidelines. Discerning “fact” from “fiction” is challenging. CERTegic references the following strategic certification technical whitepapers which are in use by over 50,000 aviation engineers worldwide (each company can download up to two for free). Select one or two favorite whitepapers for free download:
SAE ARP4761A is the aviation safety standard applicable to most all aircraft and systems: Civil, Military, UAVs, and EVTOL require ARP4761A compliance. ARP4761A defines the FHA, PASA, PSSA, SSA, FMEA, and CMA/ZSA/PRA.
FREE DOWNLOADSAE ARP4754A is the aircraft/system standard applicable to most all aircraft and avionics software and hardware: Civil, Military, UAVs, and EVTOL require ARP4754A compliance. ARP4754A defines the Aviation/Aircraft and System ecosystem for Safety (ARP4761), Software (DO-178C) and Hardware (DO-254).
FREE DOWNLOADAviation certification requires bi-directional traceability between Aircraft, Safety, Systems, Hardware, and Software Requirements including Derived and Decomposed requirements.
FREE DOWNLOADMulti-core processors provide greater throughput but introduce non-determinism via potential interference of shared Cache, Communications, and Memory. Aviation allows multi-core processing when compliant to CAST-32A.
FREE DOWNLOADDO-178C, via the DO-178C PDF, describes the software engineering process requirements for airborne software development. DO-178C has 71 objectives across five Development Assurance Levels (DAL’s) which apply accordingly application and criticality.
FREE DOWNLOADWorldwide militaries have recently standardized on DO-178C for airborne software and DO-254 for airborne hardware. But militaries have different constraints and priorities for certification.
FREE DOWNLOADDO-178C is not cheap, particularly the first project. But the DO-178C’s 25-40% cost increase when done right is cost effective on the second project.
FREE DOWNLOADDO-200B describes the aviation data processes required to certify data usability including the aviation data ecosystem for the three Assurance Levels along with DO-200A Data Quality Requirements and requisite framework.
FREE DOWNLOADDO-254 (and ED-80), via the DO-254 PDF, describes the hardware engineering process requirements for airborne hardware development. Both Simple and Complex (CEH) hardware are covered, along with relationship to AMC 20-152A and CAST-27.
FREE DOWNLOADDO-254 applies to a huge variety of avionics hardware items thus has greater subjectivity and scope than DO-178C. Many DO-254 mistakes are regularly made increasing cost and delays.
FREE DOWNLOADDO-278A is largely copied from, and aligned with, DO-178C. But ground systems (CNS/ATM) rely upon greater COTS and service-history usage Best practices of DO-278 are described here to maximize DO-278A certification success.
FREE DOWNLOADAviation tools per DO-330 are non-flying software programs used to assist development and verification of hardware and software. Tool outputs not fully verified each formal usage but be Qualified per DO-330’s three criteria and five tool qualification levels.
FREE DOWNLOADDesign of Aircraft and Avionics Systems is increasingly done via Model Based Development, which requires DO-331 Compliance.
FREE DOWNLOADUAV & EVTOL software must comply with DO-178C, but DO-178C increases costs but what are DO-178C’s benefits?
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