Overview – DO-178C (Airborne Systems)

Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification

What you’ll learn
✓ Understand the purpose and scope of DO-178C in airborne software certification
✓ Explain the relationship between system safety assessment and software level determination
✓ Describe the structure of the DO-178C life cycle processes and their interactions
✓ Define and apply key concepts such as traceability, independence, and coverage
✓ Distinguish between the different software development processes from requirements to integration
✓ Explain objectives and methods of software verification, including reviews, analyses, and testing
✓ Understand the role of configuration management and quality assurance in certification
✓ Describe how compliance with DO-178C is demonstrated to a certification authority

Requirements
● No prior knowledge required

Description
This course contains the use of artificial intelligence.

This online video course offers a comprehensive yet accessible introduction to the DO-178C standard, the internationally recognized guideline for the development and certification of airborne software used in civil aircraft. The course is specifically designed for beginners who have little or no prior experience with DO-178C and who are looking for a clear, structured overview rather than in-depth technical training.

Throughout the course, learners will gain an understanding of the purpose and background of DO-178C and its role in ensuring software safety and reliability in aviation. The course explains how DO-178C fits into the overall aircraft certification process and how it is used by certification authorities such as the FAA and EASA. Key concepts such as Design Assurance Levels (DALs), software lifecycle processes, objectives, independence, and verification activities are introduced in a clear and practical manner.

The course focuses on explaining what DO-178C requires and why these requirements exist, rather than how to implement them in a specific development environment. Complex technical details, formal methods, and tool qualification are intentionally kept at a high level to ensure the content remains accessible to newcomers.

By the end of the course, participants will be familiar with essential DO-178C terminology and principles and will understand the expectations placed on software teams working in regulated avionics projects. This foundational knowledge will help learners communicate more effectively with engineers, quality assurance personnel, and certification authorities, and will prepare them for further, more advanced training on DO-178C.

This course is ideal for engineers entering the avionics domain, project managers, quality and safety professionals, and anyone seeking a solid introductory overview of the DO-178C standard.

Who this course is for
■ Software engineers working on airborne-systems or other safety-critical systems
■ System engineers involved in requirements and architecture definition
■ Verification and test engineers working on safety-related software
■ Functional safety and system safety engineers
■ Certification and compliance engineers
■ Project managers responsible for safety-critical development projects
■ Quality assurance and configuration management professionals
■ Professionals from other safety domains (e.g. automotive, rail, medical) transitioning into aerospace software