flight data recorders
Aviation's black boxes
Flight data recorders are devices that capture technical information about an aircraft's performance during flight—altitude, speed, heading, control inputs, engine readings.
Along with cockpit voice recorders, they form what's commonly called the black box (though typically painted bright orange for visibility).
Investigators retrieve them after crashes to reconstruct what happened: The flight data recorder showed the plane was in a steep descent.
Sudden violent impact
- survivabilityCapacity to endure
- impact-resistantAble to withstand forceful contact
- fireproofUnable to ignite
- data storageRetaining digital information
tamper-proof · retrieval · hardened · data preservation · pinger · memory chips · solid-state · continuous loop
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- inquiryRequest for information
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
- reconstructBuild again from remains
NTSB · transcript · analysis · timeline · data extraction · anomaly · malfunction · human error
Pilot's control compartment
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
altitude · transponder · radar · autopilot · fuselage · airliner · navigation · aeronautics
Radio emergency signal
- distressSevere anxiety or suffering
- crashSudden violent impact
- rescueSave from harm
- emergency landingUnscheduled descent due to crisis
beacon · disaster · catastrophe · search and rescue · crash site · debris field · distress signal · impact
Able to survive collisions
- fireproofUnable to ignite
- submersibleUnderwater exploration vehicle
- robustStrong and durable
- durableAble to withstand use
shielded · reinforced · resilient · heat-resistant · waterproof · shock-resistant · encased · protected
crash
Sudden violent impact
- survivabilityCapacity to endure
- impact-resistantAble to withstand forceful contact
- fireproofUnable to ignite
data storage · tamper-proof · retrieval · hardened · data preservation · pinger · memory chips · solid-state · continuous loop · final moments
forensics
Scientific crime-scene analysis
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- inquiryRequest for information
- examinationMethodical assessment or review
reconstruct · NTSB · transcript · analysis · timeline · data extraction · anomaly · malfunction · human error · mechanical failure
cockpit
Pilot's control compartment
- aircraftAirborne transportation vehicle
- pilotOne who steers aircraft
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
airspeed · altitude · transponder · radar · autopilot · fuselage · airliner · navigation · aeronautics · takeoff
mayday
Radio emergency signal
emergency landing · beacon · disaster · catastrophe · search and rescue · crash site · debris field · distress signal · impact · accident scene
crashworthy
Able to survive collisions
- fireproofUnable to ignite
- submersibleUnderwater exploration vehicle
- robustStrong and durable
durable · shielded · reinforced · resilient · heat-resistant · waterproof · shock-resistant · encased · protected · fail-safe