ARP4754B is the new update to the venerable (but less applied!) ARP4754A aircraft and system development standard. ARP4754B was written SAE International that provides an aircraft and system development guidelines for development of civil aircraft and systems. Increasingly, ARP4754A and ARP4754B are being utilized and even required on military and space systems. ARP4754 provides a systematic framework to ensure the safety and reliability of aircraft and their avionics systems throughout their development lifecycle from planning to requirements to design/development, and then V&V. ARP4754B emphasizes the importance of a development assurance level (DAL) approach and adds Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE) and improved Unintended Behaviors vis-à-vis ARP4754A.
ARP4754 applies to the integration of systems engineering principles, and the use of safety assessments to identify and mitigate potential hazards. By following ARP4754B, manufacturers, designers, and operators can enhance the overall safety and reliability of aircraft systems; this increases improved performance, reduced risk, and increased regulatory compliance. The ARP4754 guideline deals with the key engineering aspects of aircraft development, including system requirements, design, implementation, verification and validation, process assurance, configuration management, and certification considerations. Overall, ARP4754B plays a key role in the future aircraft/aviation development industry by providing a structured framework for achieving safety and compliance objectives in aircraft and avionics systems design and development.
Applying ARP4754A/B, titled “Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems”, requires the following key steps to ensure successful development of complex aircraft systems.
1. Establishing the Aircraft and/or System Development Process: Start by defining the system development process, 7 key Planning topics, including all necessary steps from concept through to final aircraft/system certification. This process is covered via 7 key ARP4754 Plans (eight for ARP4754A) then documented and followed to throughout the project.
2. Define System Requirements: Develop a full set set of aircraft/system requirements based on the ARP4761A safety assessments and functional aspects through all phases of flight. These requirements should be verifiable, standardized, correct, complete, measurable, and traceable throughout the entire development lifecycle with records thereof.
3. System Architecture and Design: Create a system architecture that meets the established aircraft, safety, and system requirements while being compliant with the applicable product design standards. Develop detailed design specifications that outline how the system will function and be implemented within the aircraft.
4. Verification and Validation: Perform complete validation of requirements then verification through testing to ensure that the system meets all requirements as intended without unintended behavoior. . Verification confirms that the system design meets the established requirements, while validation ensures that the system meets user needs in its intended operational environment.
5. Safety Assessment: Reconfirm the safety assessment (which preceded step 1 above) to identify and mitigate potential hazards associated with the system. This includes hazard analysis, risk assessment, and the development of safety requirements to address any identified risks.
6. Configuration Management: Implement a robust configuration management process to control changes to the system throughout its lifecycle. This involves documenting and tracking all changes, verifying their impact on the system, and ensuring that all stakeholders are synchronized.
7. Certification: Prepare and submit the necessary documentation to the appropriate regulatory authorities for certification. This includes demonstrating compliance with all relevant aviation regulations, as well as providing evidence of safety and reliability.
