flight data recorder
Aviation black box
A flight data recorder is an electronic device on an aircraft that continuously captures information about the flight—altitude, airspeed, heading, control inputs, engine performance.
Designed to survive crashes, it helps investigators reconstruct what happened when something goes wrong.
Often called the black box, though actually painted bright orange for visibility.
Investigators recovered the flight data recorder from the wreckage.
Pilot's control compartment
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
heading · transponder · navigation · autopilot · telemetry · parameters · radar · altimeter
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- inquiryRequest for information
- probeThorough examination or tool
examination · NTSB · wreckage · debris · timeline · sequence · malfunction · anomaly
Demonstration of truth
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- corroborateConfirm with supporting evidence
- authenticateConfirm as genuine
- admissibleAllowed to be considered
testimony · litigation · liability · lawsuit · insurance · subpoena · chain of custody · preservation
Depression-era presidential initials
- crashSudden violent impact
- impact-resistantAble to withstand forceful contact
- survivableCapable of being outlasted
- beaconGuiding light source
locator · pinger · underwater · retrieval · orange · fireproof · waterproof · enclosure
cockpit
Pilot's control compartment
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
airspeed · heading · transponder · navigation · autopilot · telemetry · parameters · radar · altimeter · gyroscope
forensics
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- reconstructionRebuilding after destruction
- analysisMethodical study of parts
- inquiryRequest for information
probe · examination · NTSB · wreckage · debris · timeline · sequence · malfunction · anomaly · readout
proof
Demonstration of truth
- documentationWritten proof or instructions
- corroborateConfirm with supporting evidence
- authenticateConfirm as genuine
admissible · testimony · litigation · liability · lawsuit · insurance · subpoena · chain of custody · preservation · tampering
FDR
Depression-era presidential initials
- crashSudden violent impact
- impact-resistantAble to withstand forceful contact
- survivableCapable of being outlasted
beacon · locator · pinger · underwater · retrieval · orange · fireproof · waterproof · enclosure · hardened
- Crash InvestigationsNTSB, crash investigation, crash site, crash scene, black box
- Flight Safetyoxygen mask, life vest, emergency exit, seat belt, black box
- Aviation Standardsairworthiness, annexes, air traffic control, aircraft maintenance, medical standards
- flight recordersblack box, FDR
- helicopter partsrotor, tail rotor, rotor blade, blades, rotor blades
- aviation radioVHF radio, pan-pan, copy, over, out