scope:

PURPOSE.

This notice provides guidelines to Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) field offices (i.e., Aircraft Certification Offices (ACO), Manufacturing Inspection District or Satellite Offices (MIDO/MISO), and Certification Management Office or Certification Management Unit (CMO/CMU)) and to Designated Engineering Representatives (DER) regarding the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) level of involvement in software-intensive projects. Advisory Circular (AC) 20-115B, "RTCA, Inc. Document RTCA/DO-178B," recognizes RTCA DO-178B, Software Considerations in Airborne Systems and Equipment Certification, as an acceptable means of compliance for obtaining the Federal Aviation Administration's (FAA) approval of software in airborne systems and equipment. DO-178B addresses the certification liaison process but does not specify criteria for the FAA oversight. These guidelines are applicable to the approval of airborne systems and equipment and the software aspects of those systems related to type certificates (TC), supplemental type certificates (STC), amended supplemental type certificates (ASTC), amended type certificates (ATC), and Technical Standard Order Authorization (TSOA).