Next generation test support systems for the aircraft life cycle

The objective of this paper is to present the experience of EADS in using a common test support system for integration and qualification testing, aircraft ground equipment (AGE), in-service software maintenance facilities (ISMF) and ground crew training. EADS uses its test support system AIDASS (advanced integrated data acquisition and stimulation system) in different phases of the aircraft life cycle. AIDASS is comprised of a real time front end system and a standard PC for the user interface. The EADS test support system is used in almost all phases of the aircraft life cycle, i.e. for integration and verification testing, as aircraft ground equipment, for in-service software maintenance and training of ground crews. This test support system is used for the software maintenance in the TORNADO program at different airforces in Europe. The airforces also share test set-ups with industry