cockpit recorder
Airplane voice logger
A cockpit recorder is a device that captures audio from an aircraft's cockpit—conversations between pilots, radio communications, and ambient sounds.
Also called a cockpit voice recorder or CVR, it's one of the "black boxes" investigators retrieve after crashes to reconstruct what happened: The cockpit recorder revealed the crew discussing engine trouble moments before impact.
Radio emergency signal
- distress callUrgent plea for aid
- SOSMorse distress code
- crashSudden violent impact
- impactForceful contact or consequence
malfunction · warning · alarm · stall · engine failure · fire · smoke · decompression
Verbatim written account
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- co-pilotAviator's assistant in command
- flight crewPersonnel operating an aircraft
- captainOne who commands
first officer · headset · intercom · communication · radio · ATC · air traffic control · control tower
Sound from throat
- transcriptVerbatim written account
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
- ambient soundEnvironmental background audio
background noise · microphone · channel · playback · loop · timestamp · duration · fidelity
Analysis of collision causes
- NTSBFederal accident investigation agency
- accident reconstructionDetermining crash causes scientifically
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- recoveryRegaining what was lost
pinger · fireproof · impact-resistant · ejectable · aircraft safety · tamper-proof
Space for keeping goods
- memoryMind's retention capacity
- solid-stateUsing semiconductors, not tubes
- magnetic tapeCoated strip storing data
- retrievalAct of getting back
download · extraction · archive · preservation · overwrite · backup · metadata · log
Methodical study of parts
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- timelineOrdered display of events
human factors · final report · findings · recommendations · testimony · expert witness · probable cause · safety board
mayday
Radio emergency signal
- distress callUrgent plea for aid
- SOSMorse distress code
- crashSudden violent impact
impact · malfunction · warning · alarm · stall · engine failure · fire · smoke · decompression · emergency descent
transcript
Verbatim written account
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- co-pilotAviator's assistant in command
- flight crewPersonnel operating an aircraft
captain · first officer · headset · intercom · communication · radio · ATC · air traffic control · control tower · frequency
voice
Sound from throat
- transcriptVerbatim written account
- conversationExchange of spoken ideas
- dialogueSpoken exchange between parties
ambient sound · background noise · microphone · channel · playback · loop · timestamp · duration · fidelity · clarity
crash investigation
Analysis of collision causes
- NTSBFederal accident investigation agency
- accident reconstructionDetermining crash causes scientifically
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
recovery · pinger · fireproof · impact-resistant · ejectable · aircraft safety · tamper-proof
storage
Space for keeping goods
- memoryMind's retention capacity
- solid-stateUsing semiconductors, not tubes
- magnetic tapeCoated strip storing data
retrieval · download · extraction · archive · preservation · overwrite · backup · metadata · log · certification
analysis
Methodical study of parts
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- forensicsScientific crime-scene analysis
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
timeline · human factors · final report · findings · recommendations · testimony · expert witness · probable cause · safety board · inquiry