Aviation ground systems are just as vital as onboard software to aviation safety. All software, whether on the ground or in the air, requires certifications for their provable attributes. DO-278A is often called the DO-178 for ground systems, but it is a whole lot more and is quickly becoming the required standard for ground systems.
What Does DO-278A Stand For?
Guidelines for Communication, Navigation, Navigation, Surveillance, and Air Traffic Management (CNS/ATM) is the proper title for DO-278A. Released in December 2011, DO-278A is the update to DO-278 made by the RTCA SC-205, the global organization for air transportation safety. At about the same time, the RTCA SC-205 updated DO-178B to DO-178C for airborne systems.
DO-278A’s primary focus is communications, navigation, surveillance, and air traffic management systems. However, DO-278A is often referred to as the aviation standard for ground-based systems because it has additional application domains that are subject to DO-278A guidance. These include UAS ground controllers/stations (e.g., pilot stations), GPS ground equipment when in the airplane control realm, ground-based transceivers, and ADS-B functionality.
All software systems for aviation, whether airborne or ground (CNS/ATM) can affect aviation safety, and even a single error can have serious consequences. Hence the need for guidelines like DO-278A and DO-178C.
Proving the Attributes of CNS/ATM
As per AFuzion for DO-278A , there is a process used that allows developers to assess the provable attributes of CNS/ATM. These are: assessment of the potential impact on safety, determining the potential impact on safety before assessing it critically, and then it mandates the engineering development processes based on the safety impact.
Additionally, the process assesses and maximizes similarity with other safety-related standards in the industry and considers the unique aspects of Commercial Off the Shelf (COTS) hardware and software, all according to the international and local aviation certification authorities.
Applying DO-278A
For those with knowledge of DO-178C, they have already covered almost three-quarters of the guidelines of DO-278A. This is because of the similar standards for software about safety in the air. The two guidelines have several more identical aspects, including tool qualification according to DO-330.
There is still relatively little literature available for DO-278A, meaning that many rely on readily available information about DO-178C. However, there are subtle differences between the two that cannot be overlooked.
Key Processes DO-278A
Developing avionics software engineering under DO-278A starts with the safety assessment. According to Vance Hilderman, CEO of AFuzion: “This process resembles that of building, nothing can start without a foundation.”
He adds, “A concurrent Correctness Process is ongoing throughout both Planning and Development. Like with building, avionics software engineering follows a three-phased process approach that includes continuous safety assessment. DO-278A is best applied with ARP4754A and ARP4761.”
Planning Process
As with all things in life, the process of planning comes first. Once completed, the larger development process follows.
Verification, configuration management, quality assurance, and approval liaison are processes performed continuously in the background. Just like with DO-178C, the key aspect of quality assurance is ensuring the plans comply with DO-278A before the conformance of the engineering to the plans is assessed.
In the meantime, quality assurance is tasked to assess the transition criteria between the requisite activities, ensuring these are following the plans.
Complete Five-Key Process
Software planning and approval is the beginning of a process that finally leads to the fifth step of the software verification plan. In-between, comes the software quality assurance plan, which follows six levels of which AL1 is the final, and most stringent. This is followed by the software configuration management level and the software development plan.
AFuzion: Plans and Checklists
AFuzion provides planning templates and checklists to ensure all protocols are followed to ensure safety-critical / aviation certification planning. These proprietary documents, including for DO-278A, are the most up-to-date globally for the aviation industry.
Over 7,000 engineers from 25 countries use the templates and checklists for global certification agencies, including the following: FAA, EASA, NASA, ESA, TC, CAAC, CASA, INTA, RNZAF, MOD, US ARMY, and DASA.
For AFuzion aviation safety is critical. The company is focused on infusing technical knowledge and updating the available information continuously. This helps to reduce future costs, changes, and risks. Engineers are offered the ability to maximize their productivity and the reusability of their aviation technology. Above all, they are ensured to meet certification standards by following the correct procedures and guidelines.
