Faa Research Project on System Complexity Effects on Aircraft Safety: Identifying the Impact of Complexity on Safety

This draft report organizes our work on this topic to date. The work will continue. Hence, the bulk of this report is an unfinished appendix. We have organized this work on the impact that software complexity has for aircraft safety by looking in two directions. Backward tracing asks the question, “What aspects of safety, V&V, and certification can be complicated by complexity?” Forward tracing asks the question, “What about complexity can lead to problems with certification, V&V, and flight safety?”