Safety Critical Software Development Methodologies in Avionics

This article summarizes avionics safety-critical software development methodologies and implications of the DO-178C standard from an Agile application perspective. We explain the safety-critical software categorization. It also outlines the main differences and advantages of different approaches to the development process, from Waterfall through the V-model to Iterative and Incremental. Agile principles are explained as well as a Scrum – which is a popular framework in the non-safety-critical software industry. The application of Agile, for safety-critical software considerations, is based on the practical knowledge of the authors, and looks at the potential solution from a DO-178C standard, size of the project, scalability, and organizational culture points of view. Definition of the Agile type of framework, consistent with the certification process and existing standards, has been highlighted as a potential game-changer for the avionics industry.