RTCA DO-178 Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification

RTCA DO-178 Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification

The purpose of the RTCA DO-178 standard, issued by the Radio Technical Aviation Commission (RTCA), is to provide guidance for determining, in a harmonious manner and with acceptable confidence, that software aspects of airborne systems and equipment comply with airworthiness requirements.

RTCA DO-178 Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification

This standard includes the following:

  • Goals related to various software lifecycle processes
  • Description of activities and design issues to achieve these goals
  • Description of evidence and lifecycle data showing goals being met

The RTCA DO-178 standard describes these aspects of airworthiness certification related to the production of software for airborne systems and equipment used in aircraft or engines.

In other words, the RTCA DO-178 standard is designed to provide guidelines for the production of software for airborne systems and equipment that perform their intended function with a level of security that complies with airworthiness requirements.

This standard discusses aspects of airworthiness certification related to the production of software for airborne systems and equipment used in aircraft or engines. Within the scope of this standard, security levels are defined as the potential result of an undetected error in certified software. For each defined level, such results are as follows:

  • Level A: Disaster. Consistently safe flight or landing prevents many fatal injuries.
  • Level B: Dangerous and severe. Potentially fatal injuries to a small number of passengers.
  • C level: Major. It impairs crew productivity, inconvenience, or possible injury to passengers.
  • D level: Small. Reduced aircraft safety margins, but within crew capabilities.
  • E level: No effect. It does not affect the safety of the aircraft at all.

These levels are related to the criticality of the airborne system. Flight control, navigation and all wireless flight systems are flight critical and require A-level certification under the DO-178 standard. Entertainment systems are at the other end of the criticality spectrum, with E-level systems It is.

Among the numerous test, measurement, analysis and evaluation studies it provides for businesses in various sectors, our organization also provides testing services for software-related issues in airborne systems and equipment certification within the scope of RTCA DO-178 standard, with its trained and expert staff and advanced technological equipment.

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