Simulator Software Working Group (SSG)

Last Update: May 17, 2012

Chairman: Alex Stratis, The Boeing Company
APIM 11-016: Software Control and Configuration Management in Flight Simulation Training Devices (pdf, 22K)

The intent of this working group is to produce an ARINC Standard that provides guidance to the flight simulation industry on:

• Control and configuration management of software used in flight training devices
• Standardization of software change notices that accompany a software update
• Software manifests used in distribution

As modern aircraft have become very software intensive, flight simulation training devices have similarly seen an increase of software needed to operate. The need for a standardized way to control this software is evident as each training device manufacturer, simulator user/operator, equipment vendors, and software, database and aerodynamic model provider may have different ways of controlling software.

Software control and configuration includes several activities that will benefit from standardization:

• Configuration Identification
• Software Configuration Control
• Software Configuration Status Accounting
• Software Change Configuration Evaluation and Reporting
• Simulator Configuration Interface Control
• Software Change Use Cases

When a software supplier provides an update to training device manufacturers and simulator users, the data sheets and information that accompany the change are sometimes incomplete or inadequate for the users' needs. The SSG Working Group intends to identify a minimum data set and standardize the process and deliverable format of these software change notices.

Loadable Software Aircraft Parts (LSAP) is software that an aircraft uses to function properly. The airlines and aircraft manufacturers utilize ARINC Report 667-1 as a guide for managing software storage and control in a production and flightline environment. The SSG Working Group will attempt to duplicate the success of this standard by tailoring some basic methods and procedures found in ARINC Report 667-1 to the specific needs of flight simulation training devices.

For more information, please subscribe to the SSG mailing list by using the link at the bottom of this page.

Current Drafts:

Draft 2 of Project Paper 445: Guidance On Loadable Aircraft Software Configuration and Control In Flight Training Devices

Next Meeting Announcement:

Working Papers:

Last Meeting Report:

Simulator Software Working Group (SSG)
January 24-25, 2012; in Phoenix, Arizona