DO-178C and Airborne Systems Safety: From Certification to Implementation

Categories: Aerospace
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About Course

In today’s aviation landscape, ensuring the safety and reliability of airborne systems is more critical than ever. This course, “DO-178C: Airborne Software Certification Standard – A Comprehensive Practical Guide,” provides an in-depth exploration of the DO-178C standard, the cornerstone of software certification in aerospace. You will learn about its historical evolution, core objectives, and the rigorous processes required to develop, verify, and certify flight-critical software. By understanding the fundamental principles that underpin DO-178C, you’ll be equipped to ensure that every line of code in an aircraft’s system meets the highest safety standards.

The course is designed to blend theory with practical application, offering real-world case studies, hands-on exercises, and self-assessment tools that address every stage of the software development life cycle—from planning and requirements management to design, implementation, and verification. You will also delve into essential topics such as Design Assurance Levels (DAL), formal specification and verification techniques, and the integration of advanced technology supplements (DO-331, DO-332, DO-333, DO-330) that address modern software engineering challenges. Additionally, the course covers critical aspects of software architecture, coding standards, and operating system considerations in the context of airborne systems.

Ideal for engineering students, software developers, quality assurance professionals, and regulatory policymakers, this course prepares you to navigate the complex regulatory landscape of aviation software certification. With a focus on practical, industry-relevant skills, you’ll gain the knowledge necessary to design, evaluate, and certify airborne software systems that are both robust and safe. Whether you are working on next-generation flight control systems or developing safety-critical avionics software, the insights and techniques provided in this course will be invaluable in advancing your career and contributing to the future of aerospace safety.

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What Will You Learn?

  • Understand the core principles and objectives of DO-178C, ensuring software safety and compliance.
  • Master the processes involved in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) for airborne systems.
  • Develop and manage comprehensive planning documents (PSAC, SDP, SCMP, SQAP, etc.) required for DO-178C.
  • Implement robust software architectures and design strategies for safety-critical applications.
  • Apply best practices in coding, traceability, and static/dynamic analysis to meet DO-178C objectives.
  • Execute rigorous testing strategies, including requirements-based testing and structural coverage analysis.
  • Qualify and integrate automated tools to streamline the verification and certification process.
  • Evaluate real-world case studies to learn common pitfalls and best practices in DO-178C compliance.

Course Content

Module 1: Introduction to Airborne Systems Safety & DO-178C

  • Lesson 1: The Need for Airborne Systems Safety
  • Lesson 2: Threats to Aircraft Safety
    00:00
  • Lesson 3: Regulatory Standards for Airborne Systems
    00:00
  • Introduction to Airborne Systems Safety & DO-178C – Multiple Choice Quiz

Module 2: Introduction to DO-178C and Its Core Principles

Module 3: DO-178 Planning and Software Development Life Cycle Processes
This module introduces you to the critical planning aspects of DO-178C and provides a comprehensive overview of the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) as it applies to airborne systems. You'll learn how to develop a robust plan that outlines every phase of the SDLC—from requirements definition to verification—ensuring that each step of the development process is rigorously documented and traceable. This module emphasizes the importance of establishing clear Software Objectives, a comprehensive Software Configuration Management Plan (SCMP), and a Software Quality Assurance Plan (SQAP) to lay a solid foundation for certification.

Module 4: Software Architecture and Design Considerations

Module 5: Software Development Life Cycle and DO-178C Compliance

Module 6: Software Verification, Testing, and Qualification

Module 7: Advanced Topics and Emerging Technologies

Module 8: Software for Nuclear Propulsion and Radiation-Hardened Systems

Module 9: Capstone Project – Software Development for Airborne Systems

Module 10: Future Trends and Industry Applications

Conclusion

Education in Future Technologies