Interoperability of Virtual Avionics Equipment in Aircraft development

Aircraft systems have been validated with Hardware-In-the-Loop Simulators for a long time. These Systems Integration Benches are complex and costly test means and as a consequence cannot be multiplied easily to increase validation capacities during critical phases of the aircraft development. Replacing the hardware parts (i.e. the real avionics which are under test and the associated wiring, I/O boards...) by a high fidelity virtual avionics equipment part is a promising solution already used in other industries. However, the aerospace industry brings specific challenges such as complex distributed functions inside systems, hardware heterogeneity, multiple suppliers... This paper describes the results of VISTAS, a common research project with Airframe Manufacturers, Avionics and Testbench suppliers, which is intended to make systems virtual testing a reality in the aircraft development world.