Flight recorders, also known as “black boxes,” are devices on airplanes that record data to determine the circumstances of a crash. There are two types: cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders. They are used together to provide critical details of an accident and can also be used to prevent accidents and monitor aircraft health. Manufacturers have developed recorders that can eject themselves during a crash to make it easier to locate them.
A flight recorder is a device placed on an aircraft that records data that may be useful in determining the circumstances surrounding a crash. Many airplanes have two devices: a cockpit voice recorder and a flight data recorder. Flight recorders are often referred to as “black boxes”, even though they are usually painted bright orange.
Cockpit voice recorders are a type of flight recorder. As the name suggests, cockpit voice recorders are found in the cockpit of an airplane. They record at least 30 minutes of audio from the cockpit. This recording may include crew conversations, alarms, engine noise, and other audible feedback.
A flight data recorder is another type of flight recorder. This type of recorder records various parameters associated with the flight in progress. Legally, the number and type of parameters that must be recorded vary by locality. Some items that can be recorded are altitude, airspeed, and acceleration.
Both types of flight recorders are used together to provide investigators with critical details of an accident. Many times, the flight recorder is the only item that survives a crash intact, so it’s understandable that it’s searched for almost immediately. Without it, key details that could uncover the mystery of the accident could remain undiscovered.
Through repeated use and technological advances, manufacturers are learning that not only can flight recorders be used to provide details about a crash, but they can also be used to prevent accidents before they happen. Data recorded during flights can be analyzed and used to make better performing aircraft. Additionally, the data could be used in training pilots on ways to react to changing conditions during a flight.
Flight recorders are also used to monitor the health and safety of an aircraft. The data recorded by a flight recorder can be analyzed to inform the aircraft manufacturer or operator when maintenance is due, if something is not working as it should, or if an item needs to be replaced. All of this could go a long way to prevent future accidents.
Crashes that involved deep water or were so terrible that a flight recorder broke into pieces led manufacturers to develop recorders that could eject themselves during a crash. Some even use sonar or radio technology to help investigators locate the recorder. This has helped make it easier to find out what happened in a variety of accidents.
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