The Bottleneck to Certify
Modern programs produce 100k–200k+ pages of safety-critical docs. SMEs spend 25–35% of their time writing instead of engineering. Result: schedule slip, cost growth, and avoidable authority findings.
What AI Changes (and keeps compliant)
1) NLP that understands aerospace
- Trained on DO-178C, DO-254, FAR Part 25, MIL-STD-882E and prior certified artifacts.
- Generates SRA, SDD, V&V reports, hazard analyses, and configuration records with correct structure and numbering.
2) Auto-traceability
- Builds/updates requirements ⇄ design ⇄ code ⇄ tests matrices automatically.
- Change an item once; linked sections refresh everywhere.
3) Real-time compliance checks
- Confirms required sections exist, references resolve, and evidence is attached.
- Flags gaps before formal reviews.
4) PLM/ALM integration
- Teamcenter, DOORS, Polarion, Windchill connectivity for data pull/push, versioning, and approvals.
5) Human-in-the-loop controls
- SMEs review deltas, add context, and approve; AI maintains audit trails for authorities.
Proven Impact
- Time: 18 → 6 months for a DAL-A avionics package.
- Quality: 40% fewer certification findings on first pass.
- Cost: 50–70% lower documentation labor.
- Schedule: 25–30% faster program certification.
Where It Fits Best (first wins)
- DO-178C DAL B/C components; escalate to DAL A after pilot.
- DO-254 module documentation and coverage evidence.
- System safety (MIL-STD-882E): hazard logs, FTA/FMEA narratives.
- Config/Change packages and accomplishment summaries (SAS).
Implementation Roadmap (fast track)
Phase 1 — Foundation
Connect PLM/ALM; import exemplars; define templates & approval workflow.
- Train models on historical certified docs (sanitized).
Phase 2 — Pilot
- Generate a contained set (e.g., SSA + V&V for one LRU).
- Run AI quality gates → SME review → authority dry-run.
Phase 3 — Scale
- Extend to multi-domain (DO-178C + DO-254), reuse libraries, predictive risk indicators, and natural-language search over the doc set.
Governance & Assurance
- Version control for models, prompts, data, and outputs (reproducible builds).
- Change-impact analysis with redlines and rationale.
- Security/ITAR: on-prem or sovereign cloud; role-based access; full audit logs.
- HITL sign-offs mapped to organizational DER/UM roles.
ROI Snapshot
- 40–60% cycle-time reduction
- $2.3M+ labor savings on large programs
- Higher win rates via tighter proposal estimates and faster responses
FAQs (quick)
Will authorities accept AI-authored docs?
Yes—when traceability, evidence, and approvals are intact. The sign-off remains human.
Does this replace technical writers/SMEs?
No. It augments them—AI drafts; experts validate and approve.
How do we keep traceability clean during changes?
Automated matrix refresh + gated reviews; every update logs diffs and impacts.
