[Federal Register Volume 68, Number 114 (Friday, June 13, 2003)]
[Notices]
[Page 35472]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 03-15001]


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DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION

Federal Aviation Administration


Proposed Advisory Circular--Reusable Software Components

AGENCY: Federal Aviation Administration, DOT.

ACTION: Notice of availability and request for public comment.

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SUMMARY: This notice announces the availability of, and requests 
comments on, a proposed Advisor Circular that guides Reusable Software 
Component (RSC) developers, integrators, and applicants to gain Federal 
Aviation Administration (FAA) acceptance of software components that 
may makeup a part of the system's software application. This proposed 
AC also provides a means of FAA acceptance for obtaining credit to use 
previously approved RSC in follow-on projects.

DATES: Submit comments on or before July 15, 2003.

ADDRESSES: Send all comments on the proposed Advisory Circular to: 
Federal Aviation Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, AIR-
120, Room 835, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., Washington, DC 20591. You 
may deliver comments to: Federal Aviation Administration (FAA), 800 
Independence Avenue, SW., Room 835, Washington, DC 20591. Your comments 
must identify the Advisory Circular file number.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Mr. John Lewis, Federal Aviation 
Administration, Aircraft Certification Service, AIR-120, Federal 
Aviation Administration, Room 835, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591; Telephone: (202) 493-4841, FAX: (202) 267-5340; 
E-mail address: [email protected].

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: 

Comments Invited

    You are invited to comment on the proposed Advisory Circular by 
submitting written data, views, or arguments to the address listed 
above. You can examine comments received on the proposed Advisory 
Circular before and after the comment closing date at the FAA's 
Headquarters Building, Room 835, 800 Independence Avenue, SW., 
Washington, DC 20591, weekdays except Federal holidays, between 8:30 
a.m. and 4:30 p.m. The Director of the Aircraft Certification Service 
will consider all communications received on or before the closing date 
before issuing the final Advisory Circular.

Background

    Currently, there are no procedures for Reusable Software Components 
(RSC) developers to directly transfer their accepted data from one 
project to the next and across company boundaries. Traditionally, RSC 
developers provided substantiation in one of two ways. First, by 
resubmitting the data package and repeating the work for each system's 
application. Secondly, by providing traceability through the TC, ATC, 
STC, ASTC, or TSO approval back to the desired data and defending the 
validity of the original approval basis for each application. This AC 
builds upon that reuse concept by considering components that are 
reused company boundaries.
    Economic incentives and technical advances in software development 
have made it desirable to the integrator or applicant to develop a RSC 
that can be integrated into a number of target computers, environments, 
or both. In these cases, the RSC developer may partially meet the 
applicable RTCA/DO-178B objectives, while the integrator, applicant (or 
both) is responsible for completing the software and certification 
compliance activities. Examples of potential RSCs include software 
libraries, input and output data files, operating systems, and 
communication protocols.

How To Obtain Copies

    You may get a copy of the proposed AC from the FAA Web site at: 
http://www.airweb.faa.gov/rgl. You may also request a copy from Mr. 
John Lewis, see section entitled FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT for 
the complete address. You may inspect the RTCA document at the FAA 
office location listed under ADDRESSES. However, RTCA documents are 
copyrighted and may not be reproduced without the written consent of 
RTCA, Inc. You may purchase copies of Document No. RTCA/DO-178B from: 
RTCA Inc., 1828 L Street, NW., Suite 807, Washington, DC 20036 (Web 
site: http://www.rtca.org).

    Issued in Washington, DC, on June 5, 2003.
Nancy C. Lane,
Acting Manager, Aircraft Engineering Division, Aircraft Certification 
Service.
[FR Doc. 03-15001 Filed 6-12-03; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4910-13-M