Part V Special Topics

Part III provided an overview of DO-178C and examined the processes required for compliance, including planning, development, verification, configuration management, quality assurance, and certification liaison processes. Part IV presented the tool qualification guidance (DO-330) and the DO-178C technology supplements on model-based development (DO-331), object-oriented technology (DO-332), and formal methods (DO-333). Part V explores technologies and specialized topics that are relevant to many safetycritical software development efforts. The topics examined are as follows:

• Noncovered code (dead, extraneous, and deactivated code) (Chapter 17)

• Field-loadable software (Chapter 18)

• User-modifiable software (Chapter 19)

• Real-time operating systems (Chapter 20)

• Software partitioning (Chapter 21)

• Configuration data (Chapter 22)

• Aeronautical databases (Chapter 23)

• Software reuse (including previously developed software and commercial off-the-shelf software) (Chapter 24)

• Reverse engineering (Chapter 25)

• Outsourcing and offshoring (Chapter 26)

There are several other subjects that I had hoped to cover in this part, including integrated modular avionics, aircraft electronic hardware, security, and electronic flight bags. However, because of time and space limitations, they are not addressed. Some of these topics are, however, slated to be addressed in the new edition of CRC Press’s Digital Avionics Handbook.