RTCA and EUROCAE began work this week on a streamlined software development standard for use in lower risk operations, such as unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) and general aviation. The new standard will complement the existing standard (DO-178/ED-12), which will remain in effect.

Meeting virtually over two days, RTCA Special Committee (SC) 240 and EUROCAE Working Group (WG) 117, also started working on a new standard that will clarify and simplify guidance on using Open Source and commercial off the shelf (COTS) software, and service history in developing aviation software.

Work on the two standards, which is supported by U.S. Federal Aviation Administration, the European Union Aviation Safety Agency and Transport Canada is expected to be completed by the third quarter of 2021.

SC-240, Topics on Software Advancement, is chaired by Steve Cook of Northrop Grumman and WG-117 is led by Burak Ata of Volocopter. The two groups combine experts in unmanned systems with experts in software development from a range of international stakeholders. The combined committee will continue to meet virtually until in-person meetings are viable.