Black Box

Black Box is the colloquial term for an aircraft's crash-survivable recording devices — the Flight Data Recorder (FDR) and the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR). Despite the name, they are painted bright orange for visibility in wreckage.

• FDR: Records 88+ flight parameters (altitude, airspeed, heading, control inputs, engine data) for at least 25 hours
• CVR: Records cockpit audio (radio, intercom, ambient sounds) for at least 2 hours
• Designed to survive: 3,400 G impact, 1,100°C fire for 30 minutes, 6,000 m depth for 30 days
• Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB) pings for at least 90 days after submersion
• Essential for accident investigation — data from black boxes has driven countless safety improvements