SOI 2 represents a critical phase in the DO-178 certification audit cycle, a process designed to give regulators progressive insight into the safety and performance of software used in aviation. The CAA’s four-step certification framework ensures that safety-critical systems achieve in-air operability and that regulators have full confidence in their design, development, and execution.

The milestone follows Merlin’s successful completion of SOI 1 in May 2023 and advances its Supplemental Type Certificate (STC) programme for the Cessna Grand Caravan 208B. The project runs concurrently with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) under the Bilateral Aviation Safety Agreement, reflecting Merlin’s international approach to regulatory collaboration.

While the SOI 1 phase focused on the regulator’s acceptance of Merlin’s planning documentation, SOI 2 signifies that approximately half of the Flight Control Computer (FCC) software data has undergone formal review. This milestone allows the CAA NZ to evaluate Merlin’s execution against previously approved plans, reinforcing transparency and adherence to global safety standards.

“SOI 2 reflects the disciplined engineering and certification practices our team has put in place,” said Tim Burns, Chief Technology Officer at Merlin. “Each stage of this process deepens regulator confidence, reduces programme risk, and advances the Merlin Pilot toward certification and real-world operations. This milestone also highlights the close collaboration between our engineering teams and the Civil Aviation Authority of New Zealand, whose partnership has been instrumental in shaping a robust and credible path to approval.”

Merlin’s achievement comes as the company continues to expand its leadership in autonomous aviation. The U.S.-based firm develops cost-effective, AI-powered flight control systems for both legacy and next-generation aircraft. Its takeoff-to-touchdown autonomy has been validated through hundreds of flight tests across global facilities and supported by over USD 100 million in awarded contracts from defence customers and partnerships with industry leaders such as Northrop Grumman.