Although there are many different types of aircraft in the world, all aircraft have one thing in common, called the “black box”. A flight data recorder, known as a black box, is a must-have on every plane today and looks rather humble. However, it is one of the most important tools for understanding aircraft events, monitoring flights, identifying the cause of accidents and improving future aircraft.
What exactly is a black box on airplanes?
Aircraft black box, also known as flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR), is a critical device used in aviation to record important data and sounds during flights. Despite its name, the black box is not actually black, but is painted bright orange to help it be easily found after an accident. This device plays a very important role in the investigation of accidents in the air and offers insight into what happens during flight.
The black box consists of two separate components, FDR and CVR. FDR primarily records many flight parameters, including altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical acceleration, control inputs, engine performance, and numerous other aircraft system data. This information is collected through various sensors and instruments placed on the aircraft and then added to the data stored in the secure black box. It also stores data from people inside, with the CVR recording all sounds and conversations in the cockpit, including pilot and crew communications, radio broadcasts, alarms and other related sounds.
Black boxes store flight data for the last 25 hours before a crash and the last two hours of audio from the cockpit.
Black boxes are designed to be the last part of the plane, even in the worst possible crash. These boxes are stored in the tail of the aircraft, which gives them the best chance of survival.
The box itself is covered with a heat resistant coating and is made of stainless steel or titanium to withstand extreme heat, pressures and impacts. The data recorded by the black box is stored in solid state memory designed to withstand extreme conditions such as fire and water immersion. This robustness is essential to ensure that the device survives major accidents and aids further inspection.
When a plane crashes into the sea, the black box starts to signal and continues for up to 90 days, allowing authorities to locate the black box and understand what happened.
In the event of an accident, researchers analyze black box data to reconstruct the sequence of events leading up to the accident, identify the cause or contributing factors, and suggest safety recommendations to prevent similar incidents in the future.
In addition to providing data that improves the safety of future flights and aircraft, black boxes also help locate survivors by helping to locate crash sites or lost debris. They can also help us understand whether an accident was a human error or a mechanical failure.
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