Towards a workflow to support the integration of aircraft systems' models

The demand for shorter lead times and lower costs, as well as stricter reliability requirements in the development of complex systems has required both the prompt identification of errors and the reduction of rework throughout the development projects. Model Based Engineering practices anticipate the validation of system requirements and architecture to the early stages of development. These practices are in general limited to the use of models in specific and often isolated areas of knowledge. The effective application of the Model Based Engineering practices in aircraft development project has been challenging due to the difficulties in building an integrated architectural model considering that the aircraft system requirements constantly change and evolve. We propose a workflow with activities to support the development of an integrated model composed of aircraft systems models. The workflow is a practical guide that considers the integration of the models that represent the aircraft systems, respecting the aircraft development cycles where the systems are defined and improved. The application of the workflow in a large-scale aircraft development program is presented as a case study.