DO-178C: Enhancing Avionics Software Quality
DO-178C testing is part of the overall process of complying with the guidance in DO178C, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification.
DO-178C is the primary document by which the certification authorities such as FAA, EASA and Transport Canada approve all commercial software-based aerospace systems.
More recently, DO-178C has also become the de facto approach for the use of software in military avionics systems worldwide.
The overall DO-178C guidance consists of six key areas:
- Planning
- Development
- Verification
- Configuration management
- Quality assurance
- Certification liaison
Testing forms a part – but not the whole – of verification. While testing follows development in the software life cycle, verification is really a concurrent process that carries on throughout.
The planning stage of DO-178C, for example, requires development of a Software Verification Plan (SVP).
Verification includes the review of plans, design artefacts and trace-ability as well as testing (to software requirements) and analysis (where testing would be either inconclusive or too expensive to be conclusive).
DO-178C calls for significantly more software testing and, consequently, more test documentation as the criticality level of the software increases. No testing is required at Level E, since Level E software has no impact on safety. Testing to the software’s requirements forms the basis of DO-178C verification at Level D.
Additional coverage requirements are added at subsequent assurance levels.
Want to learn more? Tonex offers DO-178C Training Crash Course, a 4-day course that provides the knowledge required to reduce DO-178C risks and costs, while also enhancing the quality of the software during avionics development.
During this intensive hands-on training, participants learn the best practices for real-life software development and how to stay away from common DO-178C errors.
For more information, questions, comments, contact us.