DO-200B

DO-200B
Name	DO-200B
Status	Published
Year	2010s
Organization	RTCA, EUROCAE
Domain	Aviation avionics data interoperability

DO-200B

DO-200B is a consensus technical publication addressing aeronautical information data quality, interchange, and content standards for airborne systems, published by RTCA and EUROCAE. It provides guidance used by aircraft manufacturers, avionics suppliers, air navigation service providers, and regulators such as the FAA, EASA, and ICAO to harmonize digital aeronautical information for navigation, surveillance, and flight operations. The document interfaces with performance standards, operational approvals, industry data providers, and international harmonization efforts among entities like NASA, Boeing, Airbus, Honeywell, and Thales.

Overview

DO-200B establishes recommended practices and minimum criteria for the format, integrity, and distribution of aeronautical data used by airborne systems, aligning with expectations from the Federal Aviation Administration, European Union Aviation Safety Agency, International Civil Aviation Organization, RTCA, and EUROCAE. It targets interoperability among manufacturers such as Boeing, Airbus, Bombardier Aerospace, Embraer, and suppliers including Honeywell International Inc., United Technologies Corporation, Thales Group, Garmin, and Rockwell Collins. The standard influences certification activities overseen by authorities including the Civil Aviation Authority (United Kingdom), Transport Canada, Civil Aviation Administration of China, and Directorate General of Civil Aviation (India).

Background and Development

Work on the publication arose from operational lessons in programs like NextGen and Single European Sky, with contributions from stakeholders including FAA technical panels, EASA rulemaking groups, and industry consortia such as Airlines for America and IATA. Development involved experts from avionics firms associated with projects at NASA research centers, MITRE Corporation, and university partners like Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Cranfield University. Interactions with earlier specifications such as those from ARINC and programmatic guidance from ICAO Annex 15 informed revisions and the compilation of data element definitions drawn from sources including Jeppesen, NAVBLUE, and national aeronautical information publications maintained by National Air Navigation Service Providers such as NATS (air traffic control), DFS Deutsche Flugsicherung, and NAV Canada.

Scope and Contents

DO-200B addresses data categories including terrain, obstacle, aerodrome, navaids, airspace, navigationways, and instrument procedures processing used by guidance, surveillance, synthetic vision, and terrain awareness systems implemented by companies like BAE Systems, Saab AB, and Dassault Aviation. The publication specifies file formats, metadata, update cycles, and integrity checks intended to support equipment certified under criteria used by EUROCAE Working Group panels, RTCA Special Committee meetings, and certification authorities such as FAA Flight Standards Service. It references procedural documents produced by organizations like ICAO panels, interoperability efforts associated with U.S. Department of Transportation, and avionics interface requirements used by programs at Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman.

Implementation and Compliance

Operators including Delta Air Lines, American Airlines, Lufthansa, Air France, and Singapore Airlines implement data processes to meet DO-200B guidance within airworthiness dossiers submitted to regulators such as the FAA and EASA. Aircraft certification programs for models like the Boeing 737 MAX, Airbus A320neo, Bombardier Global, and Embraer E-Jets incorporate compliance demonstrations involving avionics suppliers such as Honeywell, Garmin, and Collins Aerospace. Airlines coordinate with data providers like Jeppesen and NAVBLUE for distribution mechanisms similar to those used in Automatic Dependent Surveillance–Broadcast data feeds and Performance Based Navigation programs coordinated with ICAO Regional Offices and national authorities including ANAC (Brazil). Audit processes often mirror quality management systems maintained under standards from ISO and industry best practices promoted by entities like IATA Technical.

Related Standards and Supplements

DO-200B interfaces with normative and advisory materials such as ICAO Annex 15, RTCA DO-178C, RTCA DO-254, EUROCAE ED-119, and ARINC specifications including ARINC 424, ARINC 424-18 procedure coding, and data exchange formats promulgated by IATA and AIDX. It complements operational standards used in Performance Based Navigation and procedure design guidance produced by ICAO Flight Procedure Programme and aligns with software and hardware assurance expectations captured in DO-178C and DO-254 certification artifacts used by manufacturers like Boeing and Airbus.

Impact on Aviation Safety and Operations

Adoption of DO-200B by avionics integrators, air carriers, air navigation service providers, and regulators has improved consistency of aeronautical data used in critical systems such as terrain awareness, synthetic vision, and flight management systems deployed on platforms from Boeing, Airbus, and Bombardier. The standard supports modernization efforts including NextGen, SESAR, and regional performance improvement programs led by FAA, EASA, and ICAO, enabling safer procedure design, reduced human error in data handling, and more predictable operational approvals for operators like United Airlines and Qantas. Continued alignment with related guidance ensures DO-200B remains relevant to digital transformation initiatives pursued by companies such as Honeywell, Thales, Rockwell Collins, and research partners like NASA Ames Research Center and MIT Lincoln Laboratory.

Category:Aviation standards