A SysML-based framework towards EASA CS-23 digitalization: An MBSE approach

The general aviation sector is undergoing rapid transformation, driven by technological innovation and increasing market demand. However, certification frameworks remain predominantly document-based, resulting in inefficiencies and elevated costs. This study presents a digital certification framework grounded in Model-Based Systems Engineering (MBSE), utilizing the Systems Modeling Language (SysML) to encode the European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) Certification Specifications (CS-23) and Acceptable Means of Compliance (AMC) into a structured, machine-readable model. The proposed methodology enables automated verification and validation, report generation, and traceability across regulatory artifacts. Beyond its technical contributions, the framework addresses interdisciplinary challenges in the present regulatory landscape, systems engineering, and organizational communication. It highlights the complexity of certification processes, emphasizing the need for coherent information exchange among stakeholders with varying levels of technical proficiency. The study contributes to ongoing discussions in the social sciences regarding institutional adaptation, digital transformation, and collaborative governance in high-reliability sectors. The framework’s scalability to commercial aviation and its potential to support emerging aircraft architectures underscore its relevance to both industry and regulatory bodies. • Inconsistencies between ASTM and CS-23 highlighted with SysML for better certification. • A digital framework to manage aviation certification. • Automatic generation of certification artifacts and documents. • Introduction of new technologies through reduced certification costs. • Potential increase in productivity and added value of aeronautical products.