Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems
Authors:   S-18 Aircraft and Sys Dev and Safety Assessment Committee
Published: December 2023

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<div class="htmlview paragraph">This SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice (ARP) provides recommendations for the development of aircraft and <u>systems</u>, taking into account aircraft <u>functions</u> and operating environment. It provides practices for ensuring the <u>safety</u> of the overall aircraft design, showing compliance with regulations, and assisting a company in developing and meeting its own internal standards. These practices include <u>validation</u> of <u>requirements</u> and <u>verification</u> of the design implementation for safety, <u>certification</u>, and product <u>assurance</u>.</div>
<div class="htmlview paragraph">The <u>guidelines</u> in this document were developed in the context of U.S. Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) Part 25 and European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Certification Specification (CS) CS-25. They may be applicable in the context of other regulations, such as 14 CFR Parts 23, 27, 29, 33, and 35, and CS-23, CS-27, CS-29, CS-E, and CS-P.</div>
<div class="htmlview paragraph">This document addresses the development cycle for aircraft and systems that implement aircraft and system functions. It does not include detailed information on the following subjects and references:</div>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph"><u>Software</u> development; refer to RTCA DO-178C/EUROCAE ED-12C.</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">Electronic <u>hardware</u> development; refer to RTCA DO-254/EUROCAE ED-80.</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">Integrated modular avionics development; refer to RTCA DO-297/EUROCAE ED-124.</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">Airworthiness security <u>process</u>; refer to RTCA DO-326A/EUROCAE ED-202A.</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">Safety <u>assessment</u> processes; refer to ARP4761A/EUROCAE ED-135.</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">A process for accomplishing in-service safety assessment is described in ARP5150A and ARP5151A or in other documents such as the <u>guidance</u> material of EASA Part 21 (GM21) when required by applicable regulation. In this document, wherever references to ARP5150A/ARP5151A are made, the reader should understand this also implies EASA Part 21 (GM21).</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">Master Minimum Equipment List (MMEL) or Configuration Deviation List (CDL) development; refer to applicable regulatory guidance from the applicable <u>Certification Authority</u>.</div></li>
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<div class="htmlview paragraph">Aircraft structure and aerodynamics development.</div></li></ul>
<div class="htmlview paragraph"><span class="xref">Figure 1</span> outlines the relationships between the various development documents, which provide guidelines for safety assessment, electronic hardware and software life cycle processes, and the system development process described herein.</div>

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