The Most Common DO-254 Mistakes (and How to Avoid Them)

In our 20+ years in avionics and aerospace engineering, we’ve rarely seen an organization easily and quickly build and certify a project to DO-254 standards. That’s no surprise; DO-254 is vague, ironically software-centric, and complex. In truth, DO-254 is rarely cost-effective in its first usage, however, the competitive landscape of avionics, both commercial and military, is just that: competitive and focused upon long-term cost effectiveness and continual safety. Meaning, if you know DO-254, you have a key advantage over your competition. But how do you know what to expect with such an elusive guideline? What mistakes and complications can come Continue Reading > > >

Avionics Certification Course

Check out our upcoming avionics certification and training course! Classes run June 27 through July 1. The amount of topics and dense details in avionics certification combined with the need for tangible application of engineering concepts means that just reading manuals and articles will never be enough to keep your aircraft knowledge “flying high.”  That’s why we’re hosting a comprehensive five-day interactive online avionics certification course. Topics include: DAY 1:– Understand ARP 4754A & ARP 4761 DAL Determination– SAE ARP 4754A Certification Considerations– ARP 4761 Functional Hazard Assessment– ARP 4761 Safety Assessment Process: PSSA & SSA DAY 2:– Avionics Configuration Continue Reading > > >

Preparing for Growth: How DO254 Will help You Meet Future Demands

Chock-full of market fluctuations, the unusual series of unfortunate events of 2020 have affected the financial forecasts of every industry and business. Though those forecasts have been revised and re-revised throughout the year, it’s clear that a 2021 (and beyond) rebound is expected in most markets, and aerospace is no exception. Prior to Covid, average growth was expected to be around 2% a year for the next 20 years. Though it’s true that efforts from virtually every nation on Earth have created short term slow downs, virtually all of the industries and services that support the aerospace market are projected to rise in 2021 as the Continue Reading > > >

Top Four Reasons You Need DO-254 Training

Modern aircraft are wondrous feats of engineering that make use of complex networks of components, systems and materials. To ensure these machines can safely carry people and property across the globe, their hardware systems must be carefully designed, evaluated and certified before becoming a “live” part of the system of systems that is an airplane. That’s where DO-254 comes in to play.   DO-254 is an objective-driven and process-oriented safety standard used to evaluate the simple, advanced and complex electronics in aircraft. We’ve covered the full range of processes and procedures that make up DO-254 guidelines in other articles, so, in this piece we address how and why the standard is Continue Reading > > >

What is DO-254? Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware

What is DO-254? DO-254, “Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware,” was realeased in 2000 and formally recognized by the FAA in 2005 via AC-152 as a means of compliance. It provides guidance for the design of Complex Electronic Hardware (CEH) in airborne systems and equipment for use in aircraft or engines. DO-178 is the established software counterpart of DO-254. Functions are classified as either software or hardware, and governed by the processes provided by the guidance of either DO-178 or DO-254 accordingly. DO-254 Processes & Outputs The basic hardware design life-cycle processes are: The planning process. The hardware design Continue Reading > > >

Reverse Engineering in DO-254

In either Top Down or Reverse Engineering, the design traceability and elemental analysis (from DO-254 Appendix B) ultimately provide the evidence of completion for this task. Requirements Decomposition Prerequisites System Level Functional Requirements complete and baselined System Design Constraints Requirements Decomposition Objectives Complete decomposition of System Level Requirements into Hardware Requirements. Decomposition implies that the newly developed requirements are traceable to the System Level; the requirements traceability will be the verification that this task is complete. Capture of design specific Derived Requirements as needed to fully define the functions and performance. Derived Requirements are defined as requirements that will not Continue Reading > > >

How do you become a Designated Engineering Representative or DER?

A DER is an individual, appointed in accordance with 14 CFR  183.29, who holds an engineering degree or equivalent, possesses technical knowledge and experience, and meets the qualification requirements of Order 8100.8D. A DER may be appointed to act as a Company DER and/or Consultant DER. Company DERs can act as DER for their employer and may only approve, or recommend approval, of technical data to the FAA for the company. Consultant DERs are individuals appointed to act as an independent (self-employed) DER to approve or recommend approval of technical data to the FAA. The followings are the General (but Continue Reading > > >