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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
February 24, 2005
Contact: Les Dorr, Jr.
Phone: (202) 267-3883

Fact Sheet
FAA’s Proposed Upgrades for Cockpit Voice Recorders and Flight Data Recorders

FAA’s proposed improvements to cockpit voice recorders (CVRs) and flight data recorders (FDRs) would improve the quality and quantity of data recorded and increase the potential for saving important data that can be a crucial part of accident and incident investigations.

The proposed rule would require some retrofits to existing aircraft and also would apply to newly manufactured airplanes and helicopters. Manufacturers of airplanes and helicopters certificated for 10 or more seats, scheduled service airlines, non-scheduled service airlines and other operators of airplanes with 10 or more seats would be affected.

Below is a summary of the major changes in FAA’s proposed rule:

Cockpit Voice Recorders (CVRs)

PROPOSED	CURRENT
Two hours recording time	15-30 minutes recording time; valuable communications can be taped over
No magnetic tape recorders	Magnetic tape OK; can sustain damage in crash
10-minute independent backup power supply	Recorder stops if aircraft electrical power fails
Standardized recording start: begins when pilots start checklist	Variable requirements for recording start
Mounted in box separate from FDR (except helicopters)	Separate box is FAA policy but not a regulation
No single electrical failure can disable both CVR and FDR	Both CVR and FDR can stop working if aircraft electrical power fails

Flight Data Recorders (FDRs)

PROPOSED	CURRENT
Measurement of control surface (rudder, ailerons, elevators, etc.) movements every .0625 seconds	Measurements every .25 or .5 seconds; may not permit accurate reconstruction of movements in all circumstances
Measurement of pilot inputs on control wheel, control column, rudder pedals ( airplanes aircraft) every .0625 seconds	Measurements every 1 second; may not permit accurate reconstruction of forces in all circumstances
Measurement of cockpit controls and flight control surfaces (helicopters) 4X per second	Measurements 2X per second; may not permit accurate reconstruction of movements in all circumstances
Mounted in box separate from CVR (except helicopters)	Separate box is FAA policy but not a regulation
No single electrical failure can disable both CVR and FDR	Both CVR and FDR can stop working if aircraft electrical power fails

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