Aviation Safety: ARP4754B & ARP4761A

System Safety for Aircraft, UAS, and eVTOL/AAM Development and Certification

This intensive three-day workshop provides a deep understanding of system safety and certification principles defined by SAE ARP4754B (System Development Process) and ARP4761A (System Safety Assessment). It emphasizes the integration of safety, reliability, and design assurance in both conventional aircraft and emerging UAS/eVTOL platforms, aligning with EASA and FAA certification expectations.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the system development lifecycle under ARP4754B
• Apply safety assessment methods from ARP4761A
• Define and link Functional Hazard Assessments (FHA), Preliminary System Safety Assessments (PSSA), and System Safety Assessments (SSA)
• Integrate safety, reliability, and certification evidence into the system engineering process
• Apply principles to UAS, eVTOL, and AAM aircraft certification frameworks

Expected Outcome

Participants will gain a solid understanding of ARP4754B and ARP4761A, apply safety analyses throughout the aircraft development lifecycle, and gain confidence in preparing certification-ready documentation for both traditional and next-generation aircraft systems.

Learning Deliverables

• Full participant workbook (slides + exercises)
• ARP4754B/ARP4761A workflow templates
• DAL and Safety Assessment cheat sheets
• Example FHA/PSSA/SSA case documentation

Who Should Attend

• System & Design Engineers
• Safety & Reliability Engineers
• Certification & Compliance Specialists
• UAS/eVTOL Program Managers
• Quality & Safety Managers

Day 1 – Foundations of System Safety and Development

Module 1: Introduction to Aviation System Safety

• Evolution of system safety in civil aviation
• Overview of certification frameworks (EASA/FAA)
• Importance of ARP4754B and ARP4761A in design and approval
• Role of system safety in UAS, eVTOL, and AAM certification

Module 2: ARP4754B – System Development Overview

• Relationship between ARP4754B, ARP4761A, DO-178C, and DO-254
• System Development Process (SDP) and V-model structure
• Requirements traceability and validation/verification activities
• Allocation of Development Assurance Levels (DALs)

Module 3: Safety Integration in the Development Lifecycle

• Linking system design with safety objectives
• Iterative process between design, safety, and certification
• Documentation: Safety Plan, Development Plan, and Compliance Matrix
• Exercise: Mapping DAL allocation for an example eVTOL flight control system

Day 2 – Safety Assessment Process under ARP4761A

Module 4: System Safety Process Framework

• Overview of ARP4761A updates (2024 revision highlights)
• Integration with ARP4754B lifecycle
• Coordination between Safety, Systems, and Certification teams

Module 5: Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA)

• Concept and purpose
• Severity classification (Catastrophic to Minor)
• Identifying safety-critical functions
• Examples for UAS and eVTOL missions

Module 6: Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA)

• Determining safety architectures and redundancy strategies
• Common Cause Analysis (CCA), FTA, and FMEA inputs
• Relationship between PSSA and DAL allocation

Module 7: System Safety Assessment (SSA)

• Quantitative and qualitative safety analysis
• Validation of architecture vs. safety requirements
• Verification evidence and compliance with CS-25/Part 23/27/29
• Exercise: Conducting a simplified FHA/PSSA for an electric propulsion control system

Day 3 – Applying Safety and Certification in Emerging Technologies

Module 8: Safety for UAS and eVTOL/AAM

• Safety and reliability challenges in distributed electric propulsion
• UAS autonomy and ground risk considerations
• Certification strategies under EASA SC-VTOL and FAA Part 23/Part 135

Module 9: Integration with Development and Certification

• Safety artefacts across lifecycle milestones
• Verification, validation, and configuration management
• Coordination with DO-178C/DO-254, DO-326A (Cybersecurity), and DO-160

Module 10: Practical Application and Workshop

• Developing a safety plan for a UAS mission system
• Mapping safety assessments to ARP4754B deliverables
• Tracing hazards → DAL → safety objectives → test verification

Module 11: Program Management and Lessons Learned

• Managing safety-critical programs and certification audits
• Common findings and pitfalls from industry case studies
• Building a safety culture across organizations
• Final Group Exercise: Team-based mini-project – ‘System Safety Concept for an eVTOL Power Distribution System’