Black Box

• 16 Jun 2025

Source: TH 

Why in News? 

The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) recovered “black boxes”, from the crash site of Air India Flight Boeing 787-8 Dreamliner airline in  Ahmedabad. 

What are Black Boxes and How do they Work? 

• About:  It was invented in 1954 by Australian scientist Dr. David Warren, it became mandatory in 1960. 
  • Black boxes in aviation are composed of two primary devices: Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) and Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) which continuously record data during flight.  
• Key Features: Despite its name suggesting black, it is painted bright orange (with reflective tape for visibility), rectangular in shape and crash-resistant devices, designed to survive extreme impact and fire. 
  • It is made of strong substances such as steel or titanium and placed towards the tail end of the aircraft, where the impact of a crash is usually the least. 
• Working Mechanism: DFDR records important flight parameters like speed, altitude, engine performance, heading, and flight control movements and stores data for the last 25+ hours of flight. 
  • CVR records audio from the cockpit, including conversations between pilots, alarms, and ambient sounds and stores data for at least 2 hours. 
    • This data is crucial for identifying anomalies or failures that may not be immediately obvious. 
• Limitations: While black boxes are crucial in aviation accident investigations, they are not infallible. 
  • In the case of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370 (2014), the absence of detectable signals from the black box hindered the search and investigation efforts. 
  • Moreover, black boxes lack video recording capability, limiting a complete understanding of cockpit events. 

Historical Evolution of Flight Recorders 

• 1950: First generation Flight Data Recorders (FDRs) used metal foil to log data. 
• 1953: First commercial FDR sold by General Mills to Lockheed. 
• 1954: Dr. David Warren (Australia) invented the modern FDR after investigating Comet jet crashes. 
• 1960: FDRs and CVRs made mandatory in aircraft. 
• 1965: Mandated to be painted bright orange/yellow for visibility. 
• 1990: Solid-state memory replaced magnetic tapes for better durability. 

Key Advancements in Flight Recorder Technology 

• Automatic Deployable Flight Recorders: These units, placed in the tail section, combine voice and data recorders with an emergency locator transmitter (ELT). 
  • They deploy automatically during a crash, float on water, transmit location, and aid faster search and rescue. 
• Autonomous Distress Tracking: New-generation ELTs providing real-time location tracking during distress, reducing the risk of aircraft becoming untraceable. 
• Combined Voice & Data Recorders (CVDR): In compliance with ICAO's mandate to extend voice recording from 2 to 25 hours, modern aircraft now use CVDRs that store both flight and cockpit data.  

What is the Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB)? 

• About: Established in 2012 under the Ministry of Civil Aviation, the AAIB investigates aircraft accidents and serious incidents in Indian airspace.  
  • It ensures independent, unbiased probes, separating investigation from regulation, which was earlier handled by the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA). 
• Key Functions and Mandate: As per the Aircraft (Investigation of Accidents and Incidents) Rules, 2017, AAIB investigates all civil aircraft accidents and serious incidents involving aircraft over 2250 kg or those with turbojet engines.  
  • It may also take up other cases in the interest of public or aviation safety.  
  • Its core functions include collecting and analysing evidence (e.g., black boxes, witness accounts), determining probable causes, issuing safety recommendations, and publishing final reports.  
  • Under Rule 3, the sole objective of AAIB investigations is accident prevention, not assigning blame or liability.

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