Software development issues in aircraft safety

Abstract

There is no doubt on the importance of onboard computers in nowadays aerospace safety and security. Many crucial aircraft systems rely for their correct operation on complex computer systems. A series of new concepts are being developed specifically to address safety issues in aviation such as controlled flight into terrain, mid-air collisions, or runway incursions. This paper presents from the safety point-of-view some of the software issues that are to be closely regarded and observed for the next generation of aircraft systems.