Quick Facts
- Type
- Safety Equipment
- Definition
- A crash-survivable device that records flight parameters (altitude, speed, he...
- Used By
- Investigators, Airlines
Definition#
A flight data recorder (FDR) — commonly called a "black box" (actually orange) — is a crash-protected device that continuously records flight parameters. Modern FDRs capture 88+ parameters including altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical acceleration, and control surface positions.
Why It Matters Operationally#
FDR data is essential for accident investigation, enabling reconstructions of what the aircraft was doing before an event. FDRs are also used in flight operational quality assurance (FOQA) programs for safety analysis.