DO-178C AI/ML Supplement Enters Public Comment Phase

RTCA SC-228 released a draft supplement to DO-178C addressing ML constituents in airborne software. Covers dataset management, explainability requirements, and how probabilistic outputs interact with deterministic safety objectives. Industry comment period runs through June.

Overview

RTCA SC-228 Working Group has published a draft supplement targeting DO-178C compliance for ML-based avionics software. The document addresses three primary areas: dataset management and versioning, explainability requirements for certification authorities, and the interface between probabilistic ML outputs and deterministic safety objectives.

Key Requirements

The draft introduces new objectives under DO-178C Section 12 covering ML-specific activities. Notably, developers must maintain a Model Development Plan (MDP) as a supplement to the existing Software Development Plan.

Industry Comment Period

The 60-day public comment period runs through June 2026. Three airlines and two avionics OEMs have announced intent to submit coordinated industry comments.