Barco's ARINC 429 IP core for ACTEL FPGA is DO-254 certified

Barco Silex BA511 ARINC 429 IP core targeted for Actel's ProASIC3 FPGAs is DO-254 certified through implementations in multiple safety-critical avionics applications.

Actel's ProASIC3 A3P1000 devices, featuring Barco's BA511 ARINC 429 IP core, were selected for a total of four DO-254 certified implementations in commercial aviation programs, including two at the highest Design Assurance Level (DAL-A), and two at the second highest level (DAL-B).

"In contrast to SRAM-based FPGAs, Actel's ProASIC3 FPGAs have inherent low power consumption and are immune to neutron-induced configuration upsets also known as firm errors," said Ken O'Neill, Actel Director of High Reliability Product Marketing. "The selection of ProASIC3 FPGAs for use in safety-critical commercial avionics programs underscores their high reliability."

DO-254 is a design assurance guideline intended to ensure that commercial aircraft avionics systems are designed in a manner consistent with the safety-critical nature of the application. The criticality of a design is assessed in terms of its Design Assurance Level. There are five DAL categories, with A being the most safety-critical. DO-254 certification is required on all major aircraft programs currently in development, for example Airbus A350, Boeing 787 and retrofits to B747 and B777 aircrafts.

ARINC-429 is an industry-standard communications interface used in the commercial avionics industry for handling command and control signals between electronic systems on board commercial aircraft.

"Actel's reliable platform, together with our DO-254 ARINC-429 design and documentation suite, offers our customers a time-to-market solution with required quality to support life-critical applications," said Didier Secnazi, Sales and Marketing Manager at Barco Silex. "Our BA511 design flow methodology fulfills the RTCA/ED-80 guidelines, which are required by the Airworthiness Certification Authority for developing hardware to be certified for use in commercial aircraft equipment."