Understanding DO-178C Certification Artifacts

What Are the Software Life Cycle Data or Data Items That Are Deliverables to the Certification/Approval Authority to Support Software Approval?

As per Section 9.3 of DO-178C/DO-278A, Minimum Software Life Cycle Data that is submitted to the Certification authority is:

• Plan for Software Aspects of Certification (PSAC)
• Software Configuration Index (SCI)
• Software Accomplishment Summary (SAS)
  But the Certification/Approval Authority may, at their discretion, request additional life cycle data items. Such a decision to request additional software life cycle data items is normally based upon the software levels/assurance levels (DAL) of the system and certification authority’s knowledge of the developing organization life cycle processes.

Based on the DAL (A-D) following tables help to develop the artifacts and should be available for customer/certification authority for review and release.

• DAL A – Catastrophic – 71 Objectives needs to be satisfied.
• DAL B – Hazardous – 69 Objectives need to be satisfied.
• DAL C – Major – 62 Objectives need to be satisfied.
• DAL D – Minor – 26 Objectives need to be satisfied.
• DAL E – No Effect – No Safety Effect

The following tables provide an overview of the mandatory software lifecycle data for all DAL levels, including DAL E. Although DO-178B does not mandate any documents or reviews for software categorized as level E, aircraft manufacturers require a minimum level of documentation for the completed processes.