No Linux OS Has RTCA DO-178B Certification

[Christopher A. Williams]

On Sun, 2004-11-28 at 20:13 -0500, Robert L Cochran wrote:
> Bill Gradwohl wrote:
> 
> > Robert L Cochran wrote:
> >
> >> ... about his observations concerning RTCA
> >
> >
> > Why do you care?
> >
> > I ask because I'm building a Lancair IV-P and intend to put a few 
> > Linux boxes in the panel.
> > Why is FAA certification of interest to you?
> >
> The Lancair kit photos are very nice -- perhaps you are building the 
> pressurized option?
> 
> I don't care what you, specifically, do with your own aircraft. If you 
> can do what you plan to with regard to 'Linux boxes' without risking 
> your own life, the lives of others, and your license, then fine.
> 
> It would be fun if I could build such an aircraft, but I have no flying 
> license. And I'm a poor man. Perhaps in the future <grin>.

Well, I may be broke at the moment, but I am a 400-hour private pilot as
well and the Lancair IV-P is one of my "dream projects" when it comes to
aviation.

I fully understand the desire for this level of certification in
avionics. For those of you who are non-pilots, this would be seen as a
*major* coup in aviation circles, as well as for the FLOSS industry. It
doesn't surprise me to see this level of interest from the Experimental
side of General Aviation first as well - these are the early adopters.
Technology advances often show up here years before they do elsewhere.

Since there is no central source of funding, we would most likely the
following to get it done:

1) Cooperation (ideally sponsorship) from the FAA
2) Sponsorship (financial) from 2 or more major avionics vendors
3) Direct support from the EAA (Experimental Aircraft Association)
4) Endorsement and support from AOPA (Aircraft Owners and Pilots
Association - BTW, they're the largest lobby group in the US)
5) Loud and ringing endorsement from a vendor like Red Hat
6) Full support from the FSF

So, is there enough interest from people in these groups to make it
happen? If not, what can be done to generate it?

Cheers,

Chris

--
====================================
"If you get to thinkin' you're a
person of some influence, try
orderin' someone else's dog around."
--Cowboy Wisdom