Sep04 / THTT

Copyright by SR Technics Switzerland

Corresponding with EASA Part-66
For training purposes only 5.13 - 1 Cat: B1.1
Basic Maintenance
Training Manual
Module 5 Digital Technology / EIS
5.13 Software Management Control
5.13 Software Management Control
Sep04 / THTT
Copyright by SR Technics Switzerland
Corresponding with EASA Part-66
For training purposes only 5.13 - 2 Cat: B1.1
Basic Maintenance
Training Manual
Module 5 Digital Technology / EIS
5.13 Software Management Control
Introduction
Each digital LRU (Line Replaceable Unit) consists of Hardware, the electronic de-
vices, and Software, instructions that tell a computer what to do. Software com-
prises the entire set of programs, procedures, and routines associated with the
operation of a computer system.
With the considerable use of software on modern aircraft used in essential sys-
tems such as flight controls, engine controls, electrical generation, navigation flight
instruments and auto-flight it is essential that the software design must be investi-
gated and control of its certification maintained.
The basis for the certification of software in aircraft equipment and systems is
RTCA (Radio Technical Comission for Aeronautics) document DO-178B, and EU-
ROCAE (European Organization For Civil Aviation Equipment) document ED-12/
12B entitled "Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certi-
fication".
These documents provide guidelines for the production of airborne systems equip-
ment software. They are used internationally to specify the safety and airworthi-
ness of software for avionics systems. They describes techniques and methods
appropriate to ensure the integrity and reliability of such software.
Software Definition
LRU's of new generation often contains their software in different packages, which
can be divided into different categories:
Core Software or System Software
Operational Software or Application Software and
Data Base Software.
The Core Software refers to the operating system and all utility programs that man-
age computer resources at a low level. It also defines the interface of this specific
LRU to other LRU's.
The Operational Software, or Application Software, defines the part of a computer
program, that varies for different aircraft configuration or changes for each differ-
ent airline.
By implementing a new Data Base Software, only parameter values will be
changed. Therefore it is not a program change. An example would be the naviga-
tion data base, that contains flight plan information such as runway direction or
landing system frequency etc.
In the RTCA Document DO 178B, software levels are defined from A down to E:
Level A, where anomalous behaviour can cause a catastrophic result down to
Level E, where anomalous behaviour will not effect the safety of the aircraft.
Software Handling
Depending on the Software Level, different care must be taken in documentation
and handling of the software. Only authorized personal may modify the software
which is classified in level A. Software which is classified in level E can be done by
maintenance personal, but only if respective documentation is available.
In any case it must be guaranteed that:
only the authorized software will be influenced by the load-activity,
the successful loading must be acknowledged,
no other systems will be affected.
The Core-Software should normally never be touched, because it is a part of the
control loop of the aircraft. An uncontrolled change could have a catastrophic ef-
fect on the aircraft. A change of this software can only be made with the agreement
of the aircraft manufacture and the LRU manufacture. This is documented in au-
thorized Service Bulletin (Cover-S/B) of this two manufactures.
A change of the Operational/Application-Software needs also the agreement and
documentation of both manufactures. But the LRU-Manufacture can be bypassed,
if the airline engineering guarantees an 'equivalent-level-of-safety', a very compli-
cate act.
A Data Base Software change can normally be done without activity of the manu-
factures and if it is guaranteed that the software is classified in level E.