DO-178 Consultancy

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Sightsys Avionics Consulting brings 40+ years of hands-on avionics certification expertise to Israeli aerospace programs. Specifically, our senior consultant has architected, certified, and delivered software systems for some of the world’s most demanding aerospace platforms — from manned aircraft and stratospheric UAVs to mission systems, ground stations, and ESA space missions. Notably, Sightsys clients get direct access to a working architect with deep technical authority across DO-178C, DO-254, DO-278A, ARP 4754A, ARP 4761, and CAST-32A / AMC 20-193 multi-core certification — paired with Israel’s leading avionics toolchain distribution.

Why Israeli Avionics Programs Need Senior Certification Consulting

Most Israeli aerospace programs face the same problem. Specifically, the engineering team is strong, but no one has personally walked a similar program through DO-178C DAL A or DAL B certification. As a result, programs underestimate certification effort, choose the wrong toolchain, or commit to architectures that block certification later.

Notably, the cost of bringing in a senior avionics certification expert at program start is trivial compared to the cost of architectural rework two years in. Furthermore, certification authority engagement, multi-core mitigation strategy, tool qualification approach, and partition topology are all decisions that benefit from someone who has lived the full DO-178C cycle multiple times — through SOI Stage 0, 1, 2, 3, and 4.

Therefore, Sightsys offers fractional and project-based access to a senior avionics architect — bundled with our toolchain distribution. As a result, you get both the right tools (PikeOS, AbsInt aiT / Astrée / StackAnalyzer / CompCert, IAR, Axivion, Cantata, Solid Sands, Cypherbridge) and the human expertise to use them correctly.

Consulting Engagement Models

1. Avionics Architecture Definition Workshop (2-5 days)

For aerospace programs in pre-design phase. Specifically, our consultant works on-site or remotely with your team to define the hardware and software architecture, partition topology, certification path, and toolchain selection. As a result, you exit the workshop with a defensible architecture document and a clear bill of materials for DO-178C certification.

2. DO-178C Certification Strategy Consultation (Ongoing Retainer)

For programs in detailed design or development. Notably, our consultant joins your program management as a fractional Certification Verification Engineer (CVE) — reviewing plans, attending design reviews, supporting certification authority dialogue, and resolving technical blockers as they arise.

3. Technical Lead — Avionics Project Contract (Multi-Month)

For aerospace programs that need senior technical leadership of a critical subsystem. Specifically, this engagement places our consultant as Technical Lead for flight control software, mission management, satellite communication systems, or ground station software development — including team building, requirements management in DOORS, design reviews, and verification strategy.

4. Avionics Tool Bring-Up and Integration Support

For teams adopting new Sightsys-distributed avionics tools. Specifically, our consultant supports the first-time integration of PikeOS hypervisor, AbsInt aiT WCET analysis, Astrée runtime error proof, StackAnalyzer, CompCert, Axivion static analysis, Cantata unit testing, or Cypherbridge security stack on your aerospace hardware. As a result, you avoid the common first-deployment pitfalls and reach productive use faster.

5. Independent Avionics Architecture Review

For programs that have already committed to an architecture and want a senior independent review. Specifically, our consultant audits your design, identifies certification risks, and produces a written findings report. Notably, this is the lowest-commitment way to validate a strategy before deeper investment.

6. Avionics Bid and Proposal Technical Authoring

For Israeli aerospace primes responding to RFPs that demand DO-178C / DO-254 / DO-278A evidence. Specifically, our consultant authors technical sections, defines compliance approaches, and supports cost estimation. As a result, your proposal demonstrates genuine technical authority — not generic marketing language.

Areas of Deep Avionics Expertise

Aerospace Certification Standards

  • DO-178C / ED-12C — software (DAL A through DAL E), including legacy DO-178B
  • DO-254 — airborne electronic hardware (FPGA design assurance)
  • DO-278A / ED-109A — ground-based CNS/ATM software (AL 1 through AL 6)
  • ARP 4754A — civil aircraft and system development
  • ARP 4761 — safety assessment process for civil airborne systems
  • CAST-32A / AMC 20-193 / AC 20-193 — multi-core processor certification
  • DO-326A / ED-202A — airworthiness security process
  • DO-356A / ED-203A — airworthiness security methods
  • ESA software standards — DO-178B-equivalent and ECSS for space missions

Avionics RTOS and Safety Hypervisors

Driver-level expertise across every major aerospace-certified RTOS and hypervisor family. Specifically:

  • PikeOS — separation kernel hypervisor, ARINC 653 partitioning, multi-core, Cache Coloring for DO-178C DAL A
  • Green Hills INTEGRITY — DO-178C DAL A certified RTOS
  • LynxOS / Lynx 178 — partitioned avionics RTOS
  • DEOS — Honeywell partitioned avionics RTOS
  • VxWorks / VxWorks 653 — Wind River avionics RTOS
  • QNX — POSIX-conformant RTOS for safety domains
  • RTEMS — open-source RTOS used in ESA space programs
  • Linux (various) — including FreeBSD, OPTEE OS for secure partitions next to certified RTOS

Processor Architectures for Avionics

Strong working knowledge of the architectures Israeli aerospace programs target. Notably:

  • Arm Cortex-M (M3, M7, M33, M55) — including TrustZone TF-A and TF-M for secure avionics
  • Arm Cortex-R (R5, R52) — lockstep configurations for DAL A/B safety
  • Arm Cortex-A (A35, A53, A72, A78AE) — multi-core avionics architectures
  • Xilinx Zynq UltraScale+ MPSoC — APU + RPU + PL integration for DAL A/B mission computers, UAV flight control, sensor fusion
  • NXP i.MX 6 / 8 / 8M Plus — aerospace-certified application processors for cockpit displays and ground stations
  • x86 / x86-64 — Intel and AMD embedded avionics platforms
  • PowerPC — legacy avionics platforms (e200, e500, e600, QorIQ)
  • Microchip SAMRH71 — radiation-hardened Cortex-M7 for ESA space missions

Avionics Data Buses and Communication Standards

  • MIL-STD-1553B — full stack including BC, RT, BM, library implementation for fighter, transport, helicopter, and UAV platforms
  • ARINC 429 / 708 — avionics serial data buses
  • AFDX (ARINC 664 Part 7) — switched avionics Ethernet
  • Ethernet TCP/IP — standard and safety-critical configurations
  • CAN / CSDB — UAV and rotorcraft serial buses
  • Discrete I/O and Serial I/O — driver-level integration for avionics boards

Safety-Certified Graphics and Compute for Cockpits and Mission Displays

  • OpenGL SC 1 / 2 — safety-critical graphics for cockpit displays
  • Vulkan SC — next-generation safety-critical graphics
  • OpenVX — safety-critical computer vision for avionics
  • CUDA, OpenCL — GPU compute for mission systems
  • QT — embedded HMI framework for ground stations
  • Low-level Vulkan SC driver implementation — including on safety hypervisors for AI-capable cockpit graphics

Programming Languages

Application, system, and driver-level expertise in C, C++, Ada (83 and 95), Python — the languages of avionics certification — with additional working knowledge of C# for ground station applications.

Avionics Hardware Platform Integration

  • VPX and VME systems — defined and built custom integrated mil-rugged solutions per MIL-STD-810G
  • COM Express modules — Computer-On-Module architecture for custom avionics platforms
  • Xilinx UltraScale+ MPSoC — outsourcing strategy for DAL A/B avionics FPGA boards including certifiable RTOS and BSP selection
  • PMC / XMC carriers — legacy and modern avionics board integration
  • Conduction-cooled VME chassis — military environmental qualification
  • FPGA solutions — including legacy MicroSemi platforms and modern Xilinx UltraScale+ for next-generation avionics

Certification Authority Engagement Experience

Specifically, our consultant brings direct experience with the world’s leading aerospace certification authorities:

  • UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) — Design Organisation Approval (DOA) process, updating Design Organisation Handbook (DOH)
  • European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) — civil airworthiness
  • Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) — US civil airworthiness
  • European Space Agency (ESA) — space software validation standards
  • CVE (Certification Verification Engineer) role — internal company sign-off authority on DO-178C programs

Integrated With Sightsys Avionics Tool Distribution

Importantly, Sightsys Avionics Consulting works hand-in-hand with our aerospace toolchain distribution. Specifically, this means:

  • Right tools, not just any tools — our consultant recommends the actual toolchain configuration your DO-178C program needs, drawing from the full Sightsys avionics portfolio: IAR Functional Safety, SYSGO PikeOS, AbsInt aiT / Astrée / StackAnalyzer / CompCert, Axivion, QA Systems Cantata, Solid Sands, Cypherbridge
  • Single quote, single point of contact — bundled consulting plus tools through one Israeli aerospace distributor
  • Tool-aware architecture — recommendations account for what’s actually available, qualified, and supportable in Israel
  • Faster tool ramp-up — your team gets architecture guidance and tool integration support from the same source

Typical Customer Profile

Sightsys Avionics Consulting is the right fit for Israeli organizations such as:

  • UAV manufacturers building certifiable flight control, mission management, and ground station systems
  • Aerospace primes delivering DO-178C DAL A/B subsystems to international customers
  • Defense electronics companies designing classified mission computers, displays, and sensor systems
  • Avionics suppliers producing flight control, navigation, surveillance, and communication subsystems
  • Cockpit display manufacturers building OpenGL SC / Vulkan SC certified graphics systems
  • Ground station and air-traffic-management developers targeting DO-278A compliance
  • Space programs requiring ESA / ECSS-equivalent software validation
  • Aerospace startups who need senior DO-178C expertise without hiring a full-time avionics CTO

Frequently Asked Questions

Is consulting available remotely or only on-site?

Both. Specifically, most engagements combine remote design reviews and document authoring with periodic on-site workshops in Israel. As a result, you get senior aerospace expertise without the full cost of permanent on-site presence.

What’s the typical engagement size?

Engagements range from a 2-day architecture workshop to multi-year fractional Technical Lead retainers. Notably, the most common starting point is a 1-week architecture review followed by ongoing monthly advisory hours.

DO-178 Consultancy