ABSTRACT

The certification process, as indicated by the quotation above, is focused on the safety aspects of the aircraft development as determined by such agencies as the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the Joint Aviation Authorities (JAA). These requirements are spelled out in documents, such as Federal Aviation Regulations (FARs) and Joint Airworthiness Regulations (JARs). The FAA has taken a major step in incorporating SE principles into the certification process by the publication of ARP 4754 (1996) and later in ARP 4754A (2010). This document is a set of guidelines compiled and published by the Society of Automotive Engineers (SAE) in cooperation with the FAA. Hence, it represents a look into the future of certification rather than present day practices. However, this look is extremely important from an SE point of view since it demonstrates the FAA’s and SAE’s commitment to the SE process.