Are Black Boxes Present in Light Aircraft?
Since the first powered flight conducted in 1902 by the Wright brothers, aviation operations have come a long way in terms of safety. Across inventions and regulations, one of the most pivotal changes for safety came in the form of the flight recorder, that of which is commonly known as a “black box.” However, there is a common misconception that all aircraft, including light aircraft, feature black boxes. In this blog, we will discuss black boxes and whether or not they are featured on smaller models, allowing you to have a better understanding of the safety features present on such aircraft.
In its most basic form, a black box is simply a device that is able to record flight data and cockpit voice recordings. Black boxes only come into use upon an accident, allowing accident investigation personnel to determine the cause of an incident. This makes it a very important tool for overall aviation safety as it can help provide insight on specific accidents and how they can be avoided in the future, and as such, black boxes are required in all commercial aircraft by law. That being said, what about light aircraft?
The answer is not quite straightforward. For example, In the United States, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) mandates that certain light aircraft must have some form of recording device for safety, but this is not the same as a black box found in a commercial airliner. Rather, these devices are known as Engine Indication and Crew Alerting Systems (EICAS), those of which can record engine and flight data for the means of alerting pilots of potential mechanical issues.
Despite sharing the role of recording flight data, an EICAS will not record any cockpit voice recordings, which are critical for investigative teams to determine what events preceded an accident. Furthermore, an EICAS will not have the intensive level of protection that black boxes do where data is maintained in an indestructible container. Instead, EICAS data will be maintained on an easily accessible memory card that would be destroyed in the instance of a crash.
The lack of cockpit recordings for light aircraft has spurred criticism, though opponents claim that the installation of black boxes on light aircraft would raise costs and complexity to a point that the potential benefits are outweighed. Nevertheless, some manufacturers are finding ways to implement more durable memory cards and systems that can capture voice recordings, even if not achieving the same indestructibility as black boxes. In other instances, light aircraft are being installed with GPS tracking devices with real-time flight data transmission, and while still not as optimal as black boxes, such solutions can still be quite beneficial.
In conclusion, most light aircraft do not have black boxes like one would see on a commercial airliner. That being said, there have been increased pushes to bolster safety and investigation capabilities. If you operate a light aircraft and wish to increase safety, you may be able to take advantage of an EICAS or other similar system. Whether you are in need of a flight data recorder, GPS device, or other various aviation products, look no further than ASAP Aviation Hub and our unrivaled inventory of items.
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