How Black Boxes Work On An Aircraft

Safety is one of the important concerns in the aviation industry, and “Black Boxes” are essential elements in ensuring passengers’ safety. Black Boxes or “Flight Recorders” play an important role in keeping air travelers safe and also help in investigations following accidents or incidents. In this guide, we will learn what the black boxes actually are and how they work. Let’s explore together!

What Are Black Boxes?

Black boxes, technically known as “Flight Data Recorders” (FDRs) and “Cockpit Voice Recorders” (CVRs), are used by many airlines such as Alaska flight. These are specially designed to withstand the extreme conditions of plane crashes and other flight accidents such as fire in the plane. During any accident, these flight data recorders save invaluable information that helps the investigators learn the reasons and causes behind the accident. 

Types of Black Boxes

The aircraft are generally fitted with two important types of Black Boxes, and these are;

1. Flight Data Recorder (FDR)

The first one is the “Flight Data Recorder” (FDR), which is responsible for recording all the technical parameters related to the aircraft’s performance. These parameters include altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical acceleration, control surface positions, engine parameters, and many others. It is like a comprehensive flight’s status page capturing all crucial data. 

2. Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR)

The Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), on the other hand, is responsible for recording all the conversations and sounds in the cockpit. This captures every word spoken between pilots, air traffic control, and even any alarms or alerts that might sound. 

How Does a Black Box Work on an Aircraft?

Both the FDR and CVR are like tiny, tireless observers that constantly gather information throughout the flight. The FDR continuously records data onto special crash-resistant memory, capturing thousands of readings per second. It is really like a super-fast recorder that records all the technical parameters quickly and precisely. 

The CVR, on the other hand, is all ears, and it uses microphones to record all the sounds in the cockpit, from conversations to button clicks to the sounds of the engines. Thus, every sound is preserved, creating a detailed audio log of the flight. In this way, both parts work simultaneously and record all the technical and non-technical sounds, thus helping in post-accident investigations. 

Investigators can investigate this recorded voice from a distance of around 2 to 3 kilometers. Moreover, these Black Boxes can also emit waves from a depth of about 14000 feet in the sea. These Black Boxes can also work for around 30 days without any electric supply and can withstand a temperature of approximately 11,000 degrees Celsius.