Which statement correctly contrasts DO-254 and DO-178C?

Which statement correctly contrasts DO-254 and DO-178C?

• A. DO-178C applies to software; DO-254 applies to hardware.
• B. DO-178C applies to hardware; DO-254 applies to software.
• C. Both apply only to mechanical components.
• D. Both specify data encryption standards.

Answer: (A)

These standards separate certification scope by component type: software versus hardware. DO-178C provides the guidance for airborne software, outlining the lifecycle processes, objectives, and verification activities needed to show software behaves safely. DO-254 does the same for airborne hardware, focusing on how electronic hardware is developed and verified, with its own design and verification objectives and development assurance levels. They aren’t about data encryption, and they don’t cover mechanical components. So the statement that DO-178C applies to software and DO-254 applies to hardware correctly captures the distinct focus of each standard. In practice, use DO-178C for software certification and DO-254 for hardware certification.

These standards separate certification scope by component type: software versus hardware. DO-178C provides the guidance for airborne software, outlining the lifecycle processes, objectives, and verification activities needed to show software behaves safely. DO-254 does the same for airborne hardware, focusing on how electronic hardware is developed and verified, with its own design and verification objectives and development assurance levels. They aren’t about data encryption, and they don’t cover mechanical components. So the statement that DO-178C applies to software and DO-254 applies to hardware correctly captures the distinct focus of each standard. In practice, use DO-178C for software certification and DO-254 for hardware certification.