RTCA DO-254, also known as "Design Assurance Guidance For Airborne Electronic Hardware," standards are used in the certification of aviation systems. The latest version of RTCA DO-254 was published in 2000. RTCA DO-254 is a standard containing requirements for electronic devices in aircraft and provides guidance on design assurance of electronic hardware in aircraft to ensure airworthiness.
According to RTCA DO-254 guidelines, all aviation hardware must be assigned a Design Assurance Level (DAL) based on the consequences of system failure. Level E means "no effect on safety," while the highest level, Level A, means "catastrophic." Standards define various process objectives that vary depending on the software level.
As the DAL level increases from DAL-E to DAL-A, the number of objectives that must be met also increases. However, it should be noted that RTCA DO-254 alone does not guarantee system safety. Additionally, necessary tests can be performed and specific standards can be adhered to in order to provide objective evidence of achieving the desired safety criteria. It should also be noted that the assigned DAL level depends on the aircraft type; the same equipment may have different DAL levels on different aircraft.
After the DAL level is determined, the planning process and development process must be carried out in sequence. And a verification & validation process running in parallel throughout this process is strongly recommended.
RTCA DO-254 is a generally accepted standard in the aviation community. The purpose of this document is to establish the documentation and lifecycle guidance required for the completion of new hardware designs and modifications.
As part of the planning process, the following key documents must be prepared by the hardware design company:
- Plan for Hardware Aspects of Certification (PHAC)
- System Requirements Document (SRD)
- Hardware Design Plan (HDP)
- Hardware Verification and Validation Plan (HVVP)
- Hardware Requirements Document (HRD)
- Hardware Design Data (HDD)
- Hardware Configuration Management Plan (HCMP)
- Hardware Accomplishment Summary (HAS)
RTCA DO-254 contains high-level requirements for the certification of the project hardware. These requirements should be determined on a project basis, and the above key documents should be prepared. RTCA DO-254 specifies the activities required to complete design assurance objectives rather than how the hardware design should be. RTCA DO-254 facilitates the decisions made in system and sub-system design and verification processes, and is more effective than other methods in resolving design errors.
RTCA DO-254 is intended for use by international aviation communities. To assist in such uses, references to certain national regulations and procedures have been minimized.
In the certification process, all design and verification steps planned during the planning process must be carried out. As a result, the required documents and test results must be submitted to certification authorities such as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) or the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA), or a local aviation authority approved by FAA / EASA. These organizations provide certification for civil aviation worldwide.
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