Sunday, September 8 — 11:30 AM - 2:30 PM

Avionics - I Track

AE-ARP4754A provides guidance for the development of aircraft and aircraft systems while taking into account the overall aircraft operating environment and functions. ARP4754 was long “suggested” for commercial avionics; the new ARP4754A is now required and increasingly mandatory for all avionics including worldwide militaries and UAV’s beginning as early as 2017.  ARP-754A is commonly called “DO-178 for Aviation Systems”, but it’s really much different:  ARP4754A requires detailed Safety processes (ARP4761) and data, systems-level planning, traceability, V&V and tight configuration management.  While bearing some semblance to DO-178, ARP4754A really covers the Avionics Development Ecosystem and is a mandatory foundation – it must come BEFORE DO-178C.  The processes for developing systems requirements are rigorous and formal processes must be proven in place before software and hardware development begin. 
This tutorial will cover a selection of topics relating to ARP4754A, such as:

  • How ARP4754A fits into the Avionics Development Ecosystem including ARP4761A, DO-178C, and DO-254
  • Differences between ARP4754 and ARP4754A
  • ARP4754A Planning – what is really required
  • Aviation Safety:  what is required for ARP4754A
  • Handling Derived and Safety Requirements per ARP4754A
  • System Requirements – What, Where, Why, and How
  • Planning, Development, and Traceability Processes for Systems
  • ARP4754A Documentation
  • ARP4754A Verification & Validation
  • ARP4754A Best Practices & Common Mistakes

Attendees may include systems or safety engineers, managers, software/hardware engineers, quality assurance or certification personnel; no prior expertise required.

Mr. Vance Hilderman is Afuzion’s director of Avionics Certification. Holding a BSEE and MBA from Gonzaga University, and a Masters in Computer Engineering from USC (Hughes Fellow). Mr. Hilderman was previously the co-founder of TekSci (the world’s largest avionics software services company in the ’90’s), HighRely, and now Afuzion – performing technical avionics software/certification development at companies throughout the world.

Mr. Hilderman has focused on safety-critical avionics software, systems, hardware development and related technical products for 25 years. Considered an expert on safety critical software/computer systems and certification, Mr. Hilderman has consulted with ninety five of the world’s one hundred largest aerospace companies plus numerous medical, industrial and telecommunications entities Mr. Hilderman has trained over 17,600 avionics engineers and managers in 40 countries on DO-178B, ARP-4754, DO-178C, DO-254, DO-200A, DO-297, and safety/software development.

Mr. Hilderman is the principal author of dozens of technical whitepapers and avionics training protocols, plus the world’s best-selling book on avionics development/certification, published by Avionics Communications and titled “Avionics Certification – A Complete Guide To DO-178 & DO-254”; all royalties are donated to the Boy Scouts of America where Mr. Hilderman and two of his sons are Eagle Scouts. Mr. Hilderman will soon be publishing his next book to be titled “The Avionics Development Ecosystem” published by Afuzion Press.