The 2021 Aviation Software Summit features three hours of live programming each day plus on-demand sessions. The free event, coproduced by EUROCAE and RTCA, Inc., gathers industry, government and academia professionals to collaborate on current software standards applications and create dialogue for future development.

“We’re looking forward to bringing the industry and regulators together for this two-day event to discuss considerations in software standards development,” says Terry McVenes, President and CEO of RTCA, Inc. “The event creates an opportunity to hear directly from and collaborate with experts and professionals from around the world in software to ensure our standards development efforts continually evolve to represent the industry’s needs.”

The Summit addresses traditional and new entrant software needs and connects the audience to experts knowledgeable in the execution of software processes. Topics include: Practical Software Development for Today’s Aviation Ecosystem, Expanding Software Rules and Regulations for New Entrants (UAM, UAS, Autonomous Automobiles), Using Supplements in Your Software Development Process, Paving the Way to Autonomous Flying (UAM/AAM) and more.

Sponsorship opportunities are still available.  For event and registration details, please visit: https://www.rtca.org/events/summit/.

FAA and EASA Answer Questions on Balancing Safety and Security at Latest RTCA Webinar

On April 21, RTCA hosted a webinar looking at a broad spectrum of topics, including cybersecurity of ground and airborne systems and how international standards come together for RTCA SC-216/EUROCAE WG-72.  After introductory statements from participants, the esteemed panel answered questions live, expounding on safety being a requirement and security being more of delicate balance of how much is needed and how it can be evaluated against cost.

Weighing in were moderator David Pierce (GE) and panelists Varun Khanna (FAA), Siobvan Nyikos (Boeing), Cyrille Rosay (EASA), Stefan Schwindt (GE) and Mitch Trope (Garmin).

“We shouldn’t have security for the sake of security, we should have it because it actually does something specific to help safety do its task,” said Khanna.  “Everything we do must have value associated with it.  In the past, we have done things like asking data to be logged.  We did not specify at that point in time what we would do with that data.  Simply logging the data was not good enough.  We have to have tools and analysis tools to bring value to it.”

The webinar ended with a brief Tech Talk featuring Victoria Newhouse, Deputy Assistant Administrator for the Transportation Security Administration (TSA).  She spoke on the new environment TSA has seen during COVID, when volumes of passengers plummeted from 2.6 million passengers per day to 87,000 on April 14, 2020.  She said TSA is not just in recovery mode, but in resilient mode, trying new screening methods and making cost-effective changes, such as using computer tomography and enhanced automated imaging technology body scanners.

RTCA webinars strive to connect our audience to experts they might not have access to otherwise and ask their important questions.  “The webinars are designed to connect members, inform viewers, and evolve your thinking into the future,” says Terry McVenes, President and CEO of RTCA.  This webinar was RTCA’s ninth.  These programs, available on RTCA’s YouTube channel, typically draw over 400 international viewers when they broadcast live.  They air monthly, on the third Wednesday of each month at 1:00pm Eastern Time.

RTCA would like to thank Gold Corporate Sponsors Collins Aerospace and NATCA, Corporate Sponsor AOPA and Webinar Sponsor Garmin, as well as all participants and viewers.

WATCH: Aviation Cybersecurity: Harmonization on Guidance and Certification

Terry McVenes interviews Pamela Cohn, the Global COO & US General Manager at Hyundai UAM and new member of RTCA.  Pamela discusses Hyundai’s UAM program and opening up the market for UAM operations around the world.  WATCH HERE

SC-213’s New, Stand Alone Standard DO-390 – Test Procedures for Quantitative Visual Advantage

In response to requests from the members of SC-213, RTCA’s published DO-390, a document on Measuring the performance of installed Enhanced Flight Vision Systems (EFVS) out of cycle on May 14, 2021.  This document was needed sooner than a full update on all vision system standards, as that may be years away. The document is available in the RTCA Store.

“Adding additional guidance on visual advantage testing was a pressing need for both the FAA and for industry,” said Trent Prange (FAA).  Prange added that since the FAA had an EFVS advisory circular (AC) getting close to publication the committee, everyone felt there was a small window of opportunity to get this kind of material referenced in a FAA guidance document.  “If we missed this revision to the advisory circular it could be a significant amount of time before this kind of guidance could be available to the public via an AC or an RTCA standard,” said Prange.

“I give a lot of credit to the hard work of all the members of RTCA SC-213,” said Christopher McLellan (FAA). “Their input has been critical to the successful implementation of EFVS operational policy.”

SC-213, Enhanced Flight Vision Systems and Synthetic Vision Systems, was established in December 2006 to develop guidance for EFVS, Enhanced Vision Systems and Synthetic Vision Systems.  It looks at enhanced vision and electronic displays, how these tools make a pilot’s job easier and how to quantify this ease by taking psychology and human factors into consideration.  It further looks at sensitivity of data and accuracy, as well as ensuring the enhanced vision would not conflict with what the pilot would see visually.  SC-213 meets again in October 2021.

RTCA Announces Safety Management Systems (SMS) Overview Course, taught by Kent Hollinger, The MITRE Corporation

RTCA has announced the offering of a new training course, Safety Management Systems Overview. Partnering with The MITRE Corporation, this course is tailored for individuals that may be new to aviation and will play key roles in safety management systems. Students in this class will have an opportunity to work an exercise in proactive Change Management risk assessment, allowing them to understand how to apply the concept prior to future operational changes.

“I am pleased to have worked with our colleagues at MITRE to develop this one of a kind course on Safety Management Systems”, said Terry McVenes, RTCA President and Chief Executive Officer. “This 4-day course is a great introduction on SMS and is especially suited for personnel from new entrants to the aviation system that may be unfamiliar with its concepts, components, and the importance of creating a positive safety culture.”

The first course is scheduled for July 12, 2021. Enrollment or additional information can be found on the RTCA training site https://www.rtca.org/training/.

All courses are set to take place in a virtual setting until further notice. See below for all upcoming training. 

RTCA Upcoming Events

Free Virtual Events

June 23-24

Virtual Conference: International Aviation Software Summit co-produced by RTCA and EUROCAE

DETAILS & REGISTER: https://www.rtca.org/events/summit/