The UK MoD Defence Standards and procurement guidelines for certifying and safely operating military aircraft systems are complex, and require criteria for airworthiness, EMC and safety of design to be satisfied.

Developing safer systems
Establishing the appropriate acceptance criteria with the MoD for the intended operation is an essential element of a procurement or demonstration programme. Whilst the maturity of the system, previous operating experience and safety record will be taken into account, suppliers will be required to demonstrate that the hazard risks meet the MoD's safety target. A clearly understood Safety Case presenting a robust argument supporting the safety evidence is required by the Secretary of State for Defence as the basis for the certification and release to service approval. Experience has shown that an independent safety assessment often assures the success of large project safety programmes and focuses effort where it can have the greatest effect on the safety risk budget.

With extensive experience and knowledge of airworthiness and certification practices, ERA is well placed to identify and interpret UK requirements, negotiating with MoD and other stakeholders to ensure appropriate acceptance criteria are well defined and understood early in the procurement lifecycle. ERA applies well-established methodologies and structure to programmes and has high calibre consultants who provide innovative solutions to meet individual client requirements.

Military aircraft engineering support services ERA is an acknowledged safety adviser to the MoD and industry and is registered under the MoD System Safety and Environmental Support enabling contract arrangements. Our ethos is to work closely with the client organisations to understand the project and tailor our services to meet the exact requirements. System safety engineering ERA's System Safety Engineering Services are based on the following primary areas: software safety safety case development, arguments and tools through life safety management and planning hazard and risk identification, analysis, assessment and management independent safety audits and assessment safety assessment, review and studies ALARP assessments reliability, availiability and maintainability (RAM) analysis