What is a black box?

“Black box” is a common term used for a flight data recorder (FDR). A flight data recorder is an electronic unit located in the cockpit of an airplane or helicopter. The black box is a recording system designed to record various actions, movements, and other details of the performance of the aircraft as it flies.

What is the black box?

It’s a common misconception that the black box records voices as well. It doesn’t. A similar device, the cockpit voice recorder (CVR), performs this function. The term “black box”  actually refers to two “black boxes” – the electronic flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. These instruments record a wide variety of information, such as speed and altitude or voice communication within the cockpit. The black boxes are also equipped with beacons that aid rescuers in locating them.

The point of a flight data recorder (black box) is that should an accident occur and the aircraft crashes, leaving no survivors in the cockpit, the recording will help determine exactly what took place leading to the crash. This is both for accident investigation purposes and for air safety reasons, to prevent the same thing from taking place as well as to determine liability.

What is the black box made of?

The black box is made from a very resilient material that was designed to withstand intense heat and violent impact. The idea is so that it can survive even the worst plane crash. However, it’s not actually a black box. The box is painted bright orange so that it will be easier to find amidst the wreckage of the aircraft, but the term has stuck for a variety of reasons and is sometimes used as a metaphor in the English language for anything with unknown and mysterious inner workings.

How is the black box important in aviation accidents?

In major plane crashes, including fatal crashes, the black box can be recovered to determine flight path, hours of flight, and communication with air traffic control in real-time. The black box does not contain cockpit voice recordings of cockpit conversations, though that is a popular misconception.

But black boxes are very useful on other flights as well.

If you are involved in an aviation accident, the information in the black box may be useful to people on board in determining what has happened and who should be held responsible. You will want to consult with a lawyer to understand how the black box works to help your accident claim, and also for general advice and guidance on the process of aviation litigation.