DO-330 / ED-215 (software tool qualification)

What it is

RTCA defines a tool in this context as a computer program used to help develop, transform, test, analyze, produce or modify another program, its data or its documentation, for example code generators, compilers and test tools. DO-330 (EUROCAE ED-215) is the qualification considerations document for those tools.

Whether a tool needs qualification is determined by DO-178C subsection 12.2, with DO-330 providing the guidance for qualification. Qualification effort scales with tool qualification level (TQL): RTCA notes that TQL-5 tools meet 14 DO-330 objectives while TQL-1 tools must meet 76.

FAA AC 20-115D, issued 2017-07-21 and listed as active, recognizes DO-330 for tool qualification alongside DO-178C. The AC is an acceptable means, but not the only means, and is not mandatory and does not constitute a regulation.

How it sits next to AI work

The FAA AI roadmap says the agency supports the application, and possible extension, of existing standards including DO-330/ED-215. That is a roadmap statement, not a new AC that assigns a TQL to an ML training framework.

A trained model is usually the software item under DO-178C, not a qualified tool. Training, data-prep and verification programs may be tools if they meet the 12.2 criteria. See How to qualify an ML tool under DO-330, DO-330 tool qualification for ML toolchains and How to map an AI model to DO-178C / DO-330.

EASA Issue 2 proposes learning assurance as an extension of traditional development assurance; it does not replace DO-330 for conventional tools.

What it is not

DO-330 is not an AI-model certificate and not a data-quality standard (DO-200B covers aeronautical data processes). Vendor “qualification kits” supply artifacts for a project-specific qualification; they do not prequalify a tool for every program. The combined DO-178C / DO-330 explainer stays the airborne-software page.