What is the purpose of the black box on an airplane?

Understand the critical role of the black box in aviation safety, including its components and functions.

The black box, consisting of the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), is crucial for investigating aviation accidents. It records flight parameters and cockpit conversations to understand accident causes.

Functions of the Black Box:

  • Flight Data Recorder (FDR): Records altitude, airspeed, heading, and other flight parameters.
  • Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): Captures cockpit conversations, radio communications, and ambient sounds.

Despite being called black boxes, they are bright orange for easier recovery and are designed to withstand extreme conditions such as high-impact crashes and intense fires, ensuring the data remains intact for analysis.