flight recorder
Crash investigation essential
A flight recorder is an electronic device on aircraft that continuously records operational data and cockpit audio.
After crashes or incidents, investigators recover these devices—designed to withstand extreme impact and fire—to reconstruct what happened.
Commonly called a black box, though they're actually painted bright orange for visibility.
Opaque system or device
- FDRDepression-era presidential initials
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
- transponderSignal-activated transmitter
- beaconGuiding light source
locator · sensor · microphone · accelerometer · gyroscope · solid-state · magnetic tape · fireproof
Enforced rules and standards
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- FAAU.S. flight safety agency
- mandateFormal authoritative directive
requirements · oversight · compliance · survivability · ejectable · satellite transmission · improvements · recommendations
Act of getting back
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- debris fieldArea of scattered remnants
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
- sonarUnderwater detection by echoes
deep sea · salvage · discovery · extraction · submersible · ocean floor · search area · crash site
Defined boundaries or constraints
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- headingDirectional course traveled
- pitchFrequency of sound
roll · yaw · engine performance · audio · ambient sounds · timestamp · metadata · compression
Federal accident investigation agency
- accident reconstructionDetermining crash causes scientifically
- forensic analysisScientific examination for legal proceedings
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
- inquiryRequest for information
probable cause · findings · report · timeline · human factors · mechanical failure · pilot error · safety recommendations
black box
Opaque system or device
- FDRDepression-era presidential initials
- avionicsAircraft electronic equipment
- transponderSignal-activated transmitter
beacon · locator · sensor · microphone · accelerometer · gyroscope · solid-state · magnetic tape · fireproof · crashworthy
regulations
Enforced rules and standards
- standardsAccepted levels of quality
- certificationAttestation of qualification
- FAAU.S. flight safety agency
mandate · requirements · oversight · compliance · survivability · ejectable · satellite transmission · improvements · recommendations · retrofit
retrieval
Act of getting back
- wreckageDestroyed remains of something
- debris fieldArea of scattered remnants
- fuselageAircraft's central structure
sonar · deep sea · salvage · discovery · extraction · submersible · ocean floor · search area · crash site · location
parameters
Defined boundaries or constraints
- altitudeMeasured height above reference
- airspeedAircraft's atmospheric velocity
- headingDirectional course traveled
pitch · roll · yaw · engine performance · audio · ambient sounds · timestamp · metadata · compression · encoding
NTSB
Federal accident investigation agency
- accident reconstructionDetermining crash causes scientifically
- forensic analysisScientific examination for legal proceedings
- evidenceFacts supporting truth
inquiry · probable cause · findings · report · timeline · human factors · mechanical failure · pilot error · safety recommendations · preliminary report
- flightflying, fly, aviation, aircraft, airplane
- aerospaceairplane, helicopter, rocket, rockets, spacecraft
- aviationaircraft, airports, flying, airplane, airplanes
- aircraft featuresseats, seatbelts, overhead bins, tray tables, windows
- airline equipmentairplane, jet, aircraft, seat, tray table
- Aviation HistoryWright Brothers, Wright Flyer, Wright brothers, Kitty Hawk, aviation pioneers
flight recorderflight computer
Onboard navigation and control system
autopilot · altimeter · attitude indicator · radar · transponder
flight recorderflight computer
Onboard navigation and control system
autopilot · navigation system · GPS navigation · early warning system