FDR, CVR, and QAR
Cockpit Voice Recorder, Flight Data Recorder, Quick Access Recorders
“The actual story of the crash dies with crew” –Anonymous
Overview:
During the early years of aviation, safety was not much of a concern since the number of lives at risk was not large, and those that were exposed to the possibility of losing their life, were volunteers who knew very well what was at stake. Over time, as the world of flight reached new heights, the risk of losing a life, as well as the number of lives at risk, grew exponentially; requiring new measures to increase the safety in this industry. Initially when an aviation accident occurred, there were limited ways of attaining the information pertinent to the crash, leaving the possibility of the same incident occurring again. To fight this problem, several methods and techniques were introduced to gain the essential information needed from inside the cockpit, to better understand the circumstances leading to a crash, and to prevent further ones. The most prominent ones being, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), Flight Data Recorder (FDR), and Quick Access Recorder (QAR). These instruments, present in all commercial flights today, provide the crash investigators an insight of the last moments of the cockpit crew, as well as the critical information of the aircraft’s operation at the time of the crash.
Purpose & Function: FDR’s and CVR’s came into existence with the sole purpose of providing the crucial information behind an airplane crash, helping investigators determine the chain of events leading up to the crash itself. David Warren, the inventor of the FDR and CVR got the motivation for the device, after his father’s crash in 1936, which left no answers as to how and why the airplane crashed, all that was left was a seat from the aircraft (Flight). Initially he received no support from his co-workers, the aviation industry, and even the government, but he did not give and continued with his work. All it took was a couple
“The actual story of the crash dies with crew” –Anonymous
Overview:
During the early years of aviation, safety was not much of a concern since the number of lives at risk was not large, and those that were exposed to the possibility of losing their life, were volunteers who knew very well what was at stake. Over time, as the world of flight reached new heights, the risk of losing a life, as well as the number of lives at risk, grew exponentially; requiring new measures to increase the safety in this industry. Initially when an aviation accident occurred, there were limited ways of attaining the information pertinent to the crash, leaving the possibility of the same incident occurring again. To fight this problem, several methods and techniques were introduced to gain the essential information needed from inside the cockpit, to better understand the circumstances leading to a crash, and to prevent further ones. The most prominent ones being, the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), Flight Data Recorder (FDR), and Quick Access Recorder (QAR). These instruments, present in all commercial flights today, provide the crash investigators an insight of the last moments of the cockpit crew, as well as the critical information of the aircraft’s operation at the time of the crash.
Purpose & Function: FDR’s and CVR’s came into existence with the sole purpose of providing the crucial information behind an airplane crash, helping investigators determine the chain of events leading up to the crash itself. David Warren, the inventor of the FDR and CVR got the motivation for the device, after his father’s crash in 1936, which left no answers as to how and why the airplane crashed, all that was left was a seat from the aircraft (Flight). Initially he received no support from his co-workers, the aviation industry, and even the government, but he did not give and continued with his work. All it took was a couple
Cited: Bonsor, Kevin. "How Black Boxes Work" 13 June 2001. Bonsor.com. 21 October 2013. Cogan, Eva, prod. David Warren 's Incredible Invention. 2012. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. . "Flight Data Recorder or "Black Box"." Old Fliers Group. 1 Jan. 2013. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. Hammack, Bill, perf. Black box: Inside a flight data recorder. 2010. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. . "Teledyne Controls Announces Successful Launch of Wireless GroundLinkTM." Teledyne Technologies. Teledyne Technologies, 5 Sept. 2001. Web. 21 Oct. 2013. .