What you didn't know about the black box

Gepubliceerd op 26 oktober 2023 om 20:25
Black box aviation

You often hear it when an airplane crashes: rescue teams are searching for the black box. But what is it and how does it work?

Despite its name, the black box is not black but orange in color. Furthermore, it's not a box but a collective term for two different devices found on almost every commercial aircraft: the FDR and CVR.

No secrets in the sky

The CVR, or Cockpit Voice Recorder, records all the sounds in the cockpit, including communication between pilots and air traffic control.

Additionally, you have the FDR, or Flight Data Recorder. This device is responsible for storing all the technical data of the flight. The pilot's actions regarding speed, altitude, heading, and so on, can be perfectly reconstructed.

Cockpit

Why isn't the black box black?

You may have wondered, why isn't that black box just black? The answer is quite simple: for rescue teams, searching for a black box amid debris is not easy. Orange is an eye-catching color, even in water.

Strong, stronger, strongest

It may seem strange to you that the black box often survives the most devastating airplane crashes. But thanks to a crash-resistant casing, these devices can withstand extreme heat and pressure.

Additionally, the location within the aircraft is also crucial. The black box is not located near the cockpit, in case you were wondering. It's placed in the rear of the aircraft, in the tail, where the chances of destruction are minimal.

plane crash

The silent witnesses in the sky

Thanks to the data from the Cockpit Voice Recorder and the Flight Data Recorder, we learn a lot from plane crashes, and investigators can precisely determine how the aircraft and crew behaved just before an incident. It is often the only way to find out the cause of an airplane crash.

Conclusion

In my view, the black box remains the most reliable witness in an investigation of an aviation disaster. Even if you accidentally end up in the cockpit, know that your voice is being recorded.

See you soon!


By: Rico Valkenborgh | October 26, 2023


Bibliografie

 

Why 100 ml? How 3 disasters shaped aviation security

Why am I not allowed to carry liquids larger than 100 ml in my carry-on baggage? Why can't my power bank be placed in the checked baggage of the airplane? And why is the cockpit door locked? Discover the role of historical incidents that paved the way for a safer sky.

Lees meer »

Safety under pressure: Lessons from the 737 MAX

The Boeing 737 MAX was meant to be the flagship of the modern aviation industry, but it quickly became synonymous with one of the biggest scandals in aviation history. Should this plane have never taken to the skies? This is the story of the Boeing 737 MAX.

Lees meer »

Mayday mayday mayday: a perfect emergency landing on water

The Hudson river landing in detail: Imagine you're on board an airplane, ready for a routine flight. You take off, and a few moments later, the pilot makes the announcement: "Brace for impact!" No, this is not fiction but actual reality. Get ready for an extraordinary story of an Airbus A320 making an emergency landing on the Hudson river.

Lees meer »

Reactie plaatsen

Reacties

Immanuel Kant
een jaar geleden

Dieser Artikel ist sehr schΓΆn formuliert! Rico ist ein Sprachwissenschaftler und vor allem ein Flugexperte. Ich freue mich darauf, nΓ€chste Woche einen neuen Artikel zu lesen.