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U.S. DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION ORDER FEDERAL AVIATION ADMINISTRATION 8110.105B Effective Date: National Policy 02/20/2024 SUBJ: Airborne Electronic Hardware Approval Guidelines This order explains how the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) personnel can use and apply RTCA, Inc., document RTCA/DO-254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware , and the additional guidance and clarifications in FAA advisory circular (AC) 20-152A, Development Assurance for Airborne Electronic Hardware , when working on certification projects. Because it is impractical to cover all situations or conditions, supplement these instructions with good judgment when handling problems.
Digitally signed by DANIEL J.
DANIEL J. ELGAS Date: 2024.02.20 ELGAS 13:03:33 -05'00' Daniel J. Elgas Director, Policy and Standards Division Division Aircraft Certification Service Distribution: Electronic Only Initiated By: AIR-600 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Table of Contents Paragraph Page Chapter 1. General Information ............................................................................................... 1-1 1. Purpose of This Order. ................................................................................................ 1-1 2. Audience. .................................................................................................................... 1-1 3. Where Can I Find This Order? .................................................................................... 1-1 4. What This Order Cancels ............................................................................................ 1-1 5. Explanation of Policy Changes .................................................................................... 1-1 6. Airborne Electronic Hardware Topics Covered .......................................................... 1-1 Chapter 2. Airborne Electronic Hardware Review Process ................................................... 2-1 1. Applying RTCA/DO-254 ............................................................................................ 2-1 2. AEH Review Process. ................................................................................................. 2-1 Appendix A. Acronym List ......................................................................................................... A-1 Appendix B. Level of Involvement Worksheets ......................................................................... B-1 Appendix C. Administrative Information .................................................................................... C-1 Appendix D. Directive Feedback Information ............................................................................ D-1 ii 8110.105B 0 2/ 20 /24 Chapter 1. General Information 1. Purpose of This Order. This order contains guidance for FAA Aircraft Certification Service (AIR) personnel on how to apply RTCA/DO-254. Additional guidance and clarifications are provided in AC 20-152A. These guidelines are applicable to the electronic hardware aspects of airborne systems and equipment in type certification and technical standard order authorization.
2. Audience. All FAA AIR personnel, including any persons designated by the Administrator, and organizations associated with the certification process.
3. Where Can I Find This Order? You can find this order on the Dynamic Regulatory System (DRS) at https://drs.faa.gov/browse and the FAA website at https://www.faa.gov/regulations_policies/orders_notices / .
4. What This Order Cancels. This order cancels FAA Order 8110.105A, Airborne Electronic Hardware Approval Guidelines, dated April 5, 2017.
5. Explanation of Policy Changes. This revision includes the following changes: a. Removes chapters 3 through 6 to eliminate duplication or conflict with AC 20-152A or AC 00-72, Best Practices for Airborne Electronic Hardware Design Assurance Using EUROCAE ED - 80( ) and RTCA DO 254( ).
b. Revises appendix B to include the use of complex commercial off the shelf (COTS) devices and COTS intellectual properties (COTS IP) as factors in the determination of the level of certification authority involvement in an airborne electronic hardware (AEH) project.
6. Airborne Electronic Hardware Topics Covered.
a. This order assumes RTCA/DO-254 and the additional guidance and clarifications provided in AC 20-152A are used as a means of compliance proposed by the applicant for AEH approval. If the applicant proposes any other means, additional policy and FAA guidance may be needed on a project-by-project basis.
b. This order addresses the AEH review process and is supplemental to RTCA/DO-254.
1-1 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Chapter 2. Airborne Electronic Hardware Review Process 1. Applying RTCA/DO-254. RTCA/DO-254 section 9 describes the certification liaison process as the vehicle to establish communication and understanding between the applicant and the certification authority. Section 9.2 suggests that the certification authority may review the hardware design life cycle processes and data at the applicant’s facilities or the applicant’s supplier’s facilities. This chapter does not change the intent of RTCA/DO-254.
2. AEH Review Process.
a. The FAA may use both on-site and desk reviews to review AEH. Additionally, the FAA can delegate both on-site and desk reviews to designees. This chapter focuses on on-site reviews since they give better access to hardware personnel, to all automation, and test setup. When preparing for an on-site review, the certification authority should do the following with the applicant and/or hardware developer: (1) Agree on the scope of review(s) that will be conducted, (2) Agree on date(s) and location(s) of the review(s), (3) Identify the certification authority’s personnel involved, (4) Identify any designees involved, (5) Develop the agenda(s) and expectations, (6) List the hardware data to be made available (both before and at the review(s)), (7) Clarify how the review(s) will be conducted, (8) Identify any required resources, and (9) Specify when and how review results will be communicated. This may include corrective actions and other post-review activities.
b. The certification authority may review the hardware lifecycle processes and associated data to obtain assurance that a product submitted as part of a certification application complies with the certification basis and satisfies the applicable objectives of RTCA/DO-254 and AC 20 - 152A. The AEH review process assists both the certification authority and the applicant to determine if a particular project will meet the certification basis, applicable guidance, and RTCA/DO-254 and AC 20-152A objectives by providing: 2-1 0 2/20/24 8110.105B (1) Timely technical explanation of the certification basis RTCA/DO-254 objectives, AC 20-152A objectives, FAA guidance, issue papers, and other applicable certification requirements, (2) Visibility into how the applicant implemented their processes and generated the resulting data, (3) Objective evidence that the AEH development adheres to approved hardware plans and procedures, and (4) Opportunity to monitor designee activities, if applicable.
c. The level of certification authority involvement in an AEH project should be determined and documented as soon as possible in the project lifecycle. Appendix C provides examples that may be used to determine the level of involvement. The scope and number of reviews, if any, will depend on several factors including the project’s hardware level, applicant (or hardware developer) experience and history, service difficulty history, designee support, and other factors such as the use of complex COTS devices and COTS IP.
2-2 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Appendix A Appendix A. Acronym List AC Advisory Circular AEH Airborne Electronic Hardware AIR Aircraft Certification Service CFR Code of Federal Regulations COTS Commercial Off the Shelf FAA Federal Aviation Administration IP Intellectual Property TSR Total Score Result A-1 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Appendix B Appendix B. Level of Involvement Worksheets This appendix contains three worksheets that may be used to help the certification authority or designee determine an appropriate level of involvement in hardware projects. The worksheets are provided as examples only and their use, individually or in combination, is not mandatory.
Worksheet 1 indicates a level of involvement based on the hardware level of the project.
Worksheet 2 allows for additional refinement of involvement based on more specific criteria.
Worksheet 3 uses the total score result from Worksheet 2 to indicate a level of involvement.
Worksheet 1: Level of Involvement Based on Hardware Level RTCA/DO-254 Hardware Level Level of Involvement A Medium or High B Medium or High C Low or Medium D Low B-1 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Appendix B Worksheet 2: Level of Involvement Based on Other Relevant Project Criteria Criteria Scale MIN. MAX. Score 1. Applicant/Developer Hardware Certification Experience 1.1 Experience with civil Scale: 0 5 10 No. projects: 0 3-5 6+ aircraft or engine certification.
1.2 Experience with Scale: 0 5 10 RTCA/DO-254. No. projects: 0 2-4 5+ 1.3 Experience with other Scale: 0 2 4 process assurance standards No. projects: 0 4-6 7+ (other than RTCA/DO-254).
2. Applicant/Developer Demonstrated Hardware Development Capability 2.1 Scale: 0 5 10 Ability to consistently produce RTCA/DO-254 Ability: Low Med High hardware items.
2.2 Cooperation, openness, and Scale: 0 5 10 resource commitments. Ability: Low Med High 2.3 Ability to manage hardware Scale: 0 5 10 Ability: Low Med High development and sub- contractors.
2.4 Capability assessments Scale: 0 2 4 Ability: Low Med High 2.5 Development team average Scale: 0 5 10 based on relevant hardware Experience: < 2 yrs. 2-4 yrs. > 4 yrs.
development experience.
3. Applicant/Developer Hardware Service History 3.1 Scale: 0 5 10 Incidents of hardware- related problems (% of Incidents: > 25% > 10% None affected hardware items).
3.2 Company management’s Scale: 0 5 10 support of designees. Quality: Weak Med Strong 3.3 Company hardware process Scale: 0 5 10 Quality: Low Med High assurance organization and configuration management process.
3.4 Scale: 0 3 6 Company stability and commitment to safety. Stability: Weak Med Strong 3.5 Success of past company Scale: 0 3 6 certification efforts. Success: None > 50% All B-2 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Appendix B Criteria Scale MIN. MAX. Score 4. The Current System and Hardware Application 4.1 Scale: 0 5 10 Complexity of the system architecture, functions, and Complex: High Med Low interfaces.
4.2 Scale: 0 5 10 Complexity and size of the hardware and safety Complex: High Med Low features including the use of complex COTS devices.
4.3 Novelty of design and use Scale: 0 5 10 of new technology Newness: Much Some None including the use of COTS intellectual properties within custom devices.
4.4 Hardware development and Scale: 0 3 6 verification environment. Environ: None Old Modern 4.5 Use of alternative methods Scale: 0 3 6 Standard: Many Few None or additional considerations.
5. Designee Capabilities 5.1 Scale: 0 5 10 Experience of designee(s) with RTCA/DO-254. Projects: < 5 5-10 >10 5.2 Designee authority, Scale: 0 5 10 autonomy, and Autonomy: Little Some Full independence.
5.3 Scale: 0 5 10 Designee cooperation, openness, and issue Effectiveness: Non-Responsive Responsive Cooperative resolution effectiveness.
5.4 Relevance of assigned Scale: 0 5 10 designees’ experience. Related: None Somewhat Exact 5.5 Scale: 0 5 10 Designees’ current workload. Workload: High Medium Low 5.6 Experience of designees Scale: 0 3 5 with other process Projects: < 5 5-10 >10 assurance standards (other than RTCA/DO-254).
Total Score Result (TSR): Worksheet 3: Level of Involvement Combining Results of Worksheet 2 with Hardware Level Total Score Level A Level B Level C Level D Result TSR < 80 High High Medium Low 80 < TSR < 130 High Medium Medium Low 130 < TSR Medium Medium Low Low B-3 8110.105B 0 2/20/24 Appendix C Appendix C. Administrative Information 1. Distribution. This order is distributed to all AIR personnel, including any persons designated by the Administrator, and organizations associated with the certification process.
2. Authority to Change This Order. The Policy and Standards Division (AIR-600) is responsible for issuing, revising, or canceling the material in this order.
3. Related Publications. The latest amendments of the following publications are the primary reference materials for this order. The following regulations and other documents referenced in this order are available on DRS at https://drs.faa.gov/browse .
a. Title 14, Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR) .
Part 21, Certification Procedures for Products and Articles .
b. Advisory Circulars .
(1) AC 20-152A, Development Assurance for Airborne Electronic Hardware .
(2) AC 00-72, Best Practices for Airborne Electronic Hardware Design Assurance Using EUROCAE ED-80( ) and RTCA DO-254( ) .
c. Industry Documents .
RTCA/DO-254, Design Assurance Guidance for Airborne Electronic Hardware , may be purchased from RTCA, Inc., at 1150 18th Street, NW, Suite 910, Washington, DC 20036.
Alternatively, copies may be purchased online at https://www.rtca.org .
4. Suggestions for Improvement. Your suggestions are welcome. FAA Form 1320-19, Directive Feedback Information , is located in appendix D of this order for your convenience.
Please forward all comments on deficiencies, clarifications, or improvements regarding the contents of this order to the AIR Directives Management Officer at 9-AWA-AVS-AIR - DMO@faa.gov .
5. Records Management. Refer to the current General Records Schedule or FAA Records Retention and Disposition Schedule or contact your respective service office records coordinator or file custodian for guidance regarding the retention/disposition of records.
C-1 8110.105B 02/20/24 Appendix D Appendix D. Directive Feedback Information Please submit any written comments or recommendations for improving this directive or suggest new items or subjects to be added to it. Also, if you find an error, please tell us about it.
Subject: Order To: Directive Management Officer, (Please mark all appropriate line items) An error (procedural or typographical) has been noted in paragraph on page .
☐ ☐ be changed as follows: Recommend paragraph on page (attached separate sheet if necessary) ☐ In a future change to this order, please include coverage on the following subject: (briefly describe what you want added): ☐ Other comments: ☐ I would like to discuss the above. Please contact me.
Submitted by: Date: Telephone Number: Routing Symbol: FAA Form 1320-19 (11/23) Supersedes Previous Edition D-1