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United States Department of Transportation United States Department of Transportation

AC 20-170 - Integrated Modular Avionics Development. Verification, Integration and Approval using RTCA/DO-297 and Technical Standard Order C153

Document Information

Number
20-170
Title
Integrated Modular Avionics Development. Verification, Integration and Approval using RTCA/DO-297 and Technical Standard Order C153
Status
Active
Date issued
2010-10-28
Office of Primary Responsibility
AIR-120, Aviation Safety - Aircraft Certification Service, Aircraft Engineering Division
Description

This advisory circular (AC) shows you how to obtain Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) airworthiness approval for the development, verification, and integration of an integrated modular avionics (IMA) system for installation into an aircraft or engine. We cite RTCA, Inc. document RTCA/DO-297, Integrated Modular Avionics (IMA) Development Guidance and Certification Considerations, dated November 8, 2005 and supplement it with this text. This AC also provides guidance on how to show compliance with Technical Standard Order (TSO)-C153, Integrated Modular Avionics Hardware Elements.

This AC is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation. In it, we describe an acceptable means, though it is not the only means, to obtain FAA approval of IMA systems.

This AC uses the terminology “should” when discussing compliance to the AC itself, as the AC represents one, but not the only, method of complying with the regulations. This AC uses the term “must” when discussing compliance to the regulations, as compliance to a regulation is not optional. In these cases, the AC text supplies, in square brackets, a reference to the specific rule(s) being discussed.

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