Frequently Asked Questions

Certification timelines vary based on application complexity, jurisdiction, and existing regulatory frameworks. Typical timelines include:

• Commercial flight systems: 18-24 months
• Drone operations: 6-12 months
• MRO systems: 9-15 months
• Satellite operations: 24-36 months

These timelines assume engagement with Terranova at the design phase. Early-stage collaboration significantly reduces time-to-certification.

The primary regulatory frameworks depend on your operating regions:

• EASA Special Conditions for Europe
• FAA Part 23/25/27/29 amendments for US
• ICAO Annex standards for international operations
• National aviation authority requirements for specific countries
• ISO 27001 for information security
• Industry-specific standards (AS9100D for aerospace manufacturing)

Terranova provides guidance on which frameworks apply to your specific operations and regulatory pathways.

Yes. Through our EASA, FAA, and ICAO alignment expertise, we can structure certifications to facilitate multi-jurisdictional approval. Key considerations include:

• Starting with EASA or FAA primary certification
• Leveraging mutual recognition agreements
• Adapting to specific national requirements
• Building modular compliance frameworks
• Managing concurrent approval processes

This approach typically reduces overall certification time and cost versus sequential single-jurisdiction approaches.

AI governance encompasses multiple domains of oversight and assurance:

• System design and validation methodologies
• Operational limits and decision boundaries
• Failure mode analysis and mitigation strategies
• Transparency and explainability requirements
• Continuous monitoring and performance oversight
• Incident reporting and corrective action procedures
• Regulatory documentation and evidence packages
• Staff training and competency assurance

Terranova develops comprehensive frameworks tailored to your operational context and regulatory environment.

AI safety requires multi-layered approaches addressing design, deployment, and operation:

• Adversarial testing and robustness validation
• Hardware redundancy and fail-safe mechanisms
• Real-time monitoring and anomaly detection
• Human-in-the-loop oversight systems
• Rapid incident response procedures
• Continuous retraining on edge cases
• Third-party validation and certification
• Comprehensive documentation and traceability

Safety is not a single feature but an integrated system property requiring continuous attention.

Comprehensive testing validates system behavior across the operational envelope:

• Simulation testing in representative environments
• Hardware-in-the-loop validation
• Failure mode and effects analysis (FMEA)
• Adversarial robustness testing
• Edge case and stress testing
• Operational field trials with oversight
• Performance regression testing
• Regulatory compliance audits

The scope and depth of testing depends on the system's safety criticality and the operating environment.

Post-certification compliance requires ongoing management and oversight:

• Continuous monitoring of system performance
• Regular audit and assessment schedules
• Incident reporting to regulatory authorities
• Software update and version control procedures
• Staff training and recurrent certification
• Documentation maintenance and record keeping
• Regulatory requirement tracking and updates
• Annual compliance reviews and reporting

Terranova provides ongoing support to maintain compliance throughout the system lifecycle.

Regulatory changes are handled through structured processes:

• Monitoring of pending regulatory changes
• Impact assessment for your systems
• Timeline development for compliance
• Implementation of required changes
• Re-certification where necessary
• Operational procedure updates
• Stakeholder communication

Most regulatory transitions include transition periods. Terranova helps plan and execute compliance efficiently.

AI system updates must be managed within established governance frameworks:

• Change request and impact analysis
• Regression testing and validation
• Regulatory notification where required
• Operational trial periods for validation
• Controlled rollout procedures
• Rollback capabilities and procedures
• Performance monitoring post-deployment
• Documentation updates

Even minor improvements must follow established processes to maintain certification validity.

Costs vary significantly based on system complexity, scope, and timeline:

• Initial governance framework: $150K - $500K
• System design and development: $300K - $2M+
• Certification support: $200K - $800K
• Ongoing compliance: $50K - $200K annually

Early-stage engagement with Terranova can reduce overall costs by optimizing development and certification pathways. We provide detailed estimates after understanding your specific requirements.

Yes. Terranova can engage at any project stage, though earlier engagement provides advantages:

• Early-stage: Design optimization and requirements mapping
• Mid-project: Gap analysis and corrective planning
• Late-stage: Certification support and final validation
• Post-launch: Ongoing compliance and management

Mid-project engagement may require rework, but we help minimize disruption and accelerate certification timelines.

Getting started is straightforward:

• Schedule a free initial consultation
• Discuss your project scope and objectives
• Receive a detailed assessment and roadmap
• Develop a customized engagement proposal
• Begin phase one activities

Contact us using the form on our Contact page or email directly. We typically respond within 24 hours.