# Aerospace Systems Engineering

> Use when engineering aerospace systems. Safety, risk.

- Skill: `loopyluci/aerospace-systems-engineering` (Agent Skill)
- Install (CLI): `npx skillmds@latest add loopyluci/aerospace-systems-engineering`
- Raw SKILL.md: https://api.skillmd.com/api/skills/loopyluci/aerospace-systems-engineering/raw
- Safety review: pending (external: skill-scanner PASS, skillspector PASS)
- Works with: Claude Code, Claude.ai, OpenAI Codex
- Category: Coding & Dev Tools
- License: MIT
- Author: LoopyLuci (https://skillmd.com/u/loopyluci)
- Updated: 2026-09-08
- Page: https://skillmd.com/skills/loopyluci/aerospace-systems-engineering

---


# Aerospace Systems Engineering

## Overview
Design, develop, and validate safety-critical aerospace systems using systems engineering, risk management, and certification processes. Covers requirements engineering, system architecture, safety analysis (FMECA/HAZOP), testing/validation, and aerospace standards (DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754A).

## When to Use
- "Design aerospace flight control system"
- "Perform safety analysis for aircraft systems"
- "Plan DO-178C software certification"
- "Manage aerospace requirements traceability"
- "Test aerospace systems with fault injection"

## Systems Engineering V-Model (ARP4754A)
```mermaid
V-Model: System Requirements → Architecture → Design → Implementation → Testing ← Verification ← Validation
```

### Requirements Traceability
```python
class AerospaceReqTraceability:
    def __init__(self):
        self.traceability_matrix = {}
    
    def add_requirement(self, req_id, safety_level, source="DO-178C"):
        """
        Add aerospace requirement with safety level (A-E)
        """
        self.traceability_matrix[req_id] = {
            "safety_level": safety_level,  # A=Catastrophic, B=Hazardous, C=Major, D=Minor, E=None
            "source": source,
            "design_elements": [],
            "test_cases": [],
            "verification_method": None
        }
```

## Safety Analysis Methods

### Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA)
| Condition | Level | Description |
|-----------|-------|-------------|
| Catastrophic | A | Multiple fatalities |
| Hazardous | B | Serious injury |
| Major | C | Minor injury |
| Minor | D | Passenger discomfort |

## Common Pitfalls
1. **Insufficient requirements traceability** — no linkage from req to design to test
2. **Not addressing all hazard conditions** — incomplete FHA analysis
3. **Wrong DO-178C level assignment** — safety level misidentified
4. **Insufficient test coverage** — especially MC/DC for Level A
5. **Poor configuration management** — lost changes during development
6. **Not conducting peer reviews** — required for all levels per DO-178C
7. **Inadequate safety margins** — hardware margins too tight
8. **Not planning contingencies** — off-nominal conditions not tested
9. **Skipping fault injection testing** — latent failures undetected
10. **Not maintaining certification artifacts** — audit trail gaps

## Verification Checklist
- [ ] Requirements traceable per DO-178C
- [ ] FHA/FTA completed for all safety levels
- [ ] Test coverage meets software level (MC/DC for Level A)
- [ ] Configuration management system active
- [ ] Peer reviews documented per DO-178C
- [ ] Fault injection testing completed