ARP4761A — Guidelines and Methods for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment

Section 01: Organizations & Authorities

Definition

An SAE Aerospace Recommended Practice that describes guidelines and methods for performing safety assessments on civil aircraft systems and equipment. ARP4761A provides methodologies for Functional Hazard Assessment (FHA), Preliminary System Safety Assessment (PSSA), System Safety Assessment (SSA), Common Cause Analysis (CCA), and other safety analysis techniques. It is used throughout the aircraft development lifecycle to identify hazards, assess risks, and validate that safety requirements are met.

Where This Shows Up

ARP4761A is the companion document to ARP4754B. While ARP4754B addresses the overall system development assurance process, ARP4761A focuses specifically on the safety assessment methods. Together, they form the core framework for systems safety in civil aviation certification.

Primary Sources

SAE ARP4761A — Guidelines and Methods for Conducting the Safety Assessment Process on Civil Airborne Systems and Equipment (2023)

The current version of the safety assessment process guideline.

FAA AC 25.1309-1A — System Design and AnalysisFAA

FAA advisory circular that references ARP4761 methods for safety assessment.

Related Terms

SAE InternationalARP4754B — Guidelines for Development of Civil Aircraft and Systems

Need help navigating certification?

Understanding the terminology is the first step. If you need expert guidance on DO-178C, DO-254, ARP4754B, or any aspect of FAA, EASA, or TCCA certification, our team is here to help.