Data Network Evaluation Criteria Handbook

Department of Transportation in the interest of information exchange. The United States Government assumes no liability for the contents or use thereof. The United States Government does not endorse products or manufacturers. Trade or manufacturer's names appear herein solely because they are considered essential to the objective of this report. This document does not constitute FAA certification policy. Consult your local FAA aircraft certification office as to its use. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide evaluation criteria to be used in the development, selection, modification, adaptation, or approval of data network technologies and components to be deployed in safety-critical aviation systems. The expected readership for this Handbook primarily includes designers of digital electronics systems that may use data networks and those who are concerned with the certification of aircraft or aircraft engines containing such systems. This Handbook's objective for providing these evaluation criteria is to facilitate the process by which data networks are employed in aviation digital electronics systems that may ultimately be certified as part of an overall aircraft or aircraft engine certification process. It focuses on identifying aspects of the technologies and component implementations that ultimately may have an adverse impact on the approval within the certification of an aircraft. Particular attention is given to issues that are generally overlooked or underappreciated in the industry. This Handbook does not constitute Federal Aviation Administration certification policy or guidance, but may be used as input to future policy and guidance.