FDR

FDR (Flight Data Recorder) continuously records flight parameters including altitude, airspeed, heading, vertical acceleration, control inputs, engine performance, and hundreds of other data points. Modern FDRs record over 1,000 parameters for at least 25 hours.

Together with the CVR, the FDR forms the aircraft "black box" (actually painted bright orange). FDRs are designed to withstand extreme crash forces (3,400g), temperatures (1,100°C for 30 minutes), and ocean depth (6,000m for 30 days).