Session 9

Flight Recorder
SEMINAR ON AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INCIDENT INVESTIGATION
11-15 AUGUST 2014

1
 Topics

Relevant documents

Evolution of recorders

How is the data recorded

Frame data file

What is good to know

FDR Data presentation

Where to readout

2
 Relevant Documents

International
 ICAO Annex 6

Europe:
 EASA: European Aviation Safety Authorities
 Eurocae : European Organization for Civil
Aviation Equipment (ED112, ED55, ED56)

USA:
 FAA
 ARINC : Aeronautical Radio Inc, (ARINC
647A,Flight Recorder Electronic Documentation)

Other local regulations:
 Local Civil Aviation Authorities (DGCA, DGAC,
CAA….)
 Relevant Documents cont’d
ICAO

Flight recorders requirements
 In Annex 6, Chapter 6
 In Annex 6, Appendix 8
 The Flight Recorder (FLIREC) Panel is in charge
of Annex 6 improvement
 What is a flight recorder?

Any type of recorder installed in the aircraft

for the purpose of complementing
accident/incident investigation.
 ICAO Annex 6 Chapter 6

ICAO Annex 6 gives no technical

specifications

General requirements
– Orange/Yellow painted.
– Reflective material.
– Underwater locating device
– Reference to EUROCAE documents (ED-
112 …)
 ICAO Annex 6 Chapter 6
6.3.1.1 Types

Types I and IA FDR shall record the parameters

required to determine accurately the aeroplane
flight path, speed, attitude, engine power,
configuration and operation.

Types II and IIA FDRs shall record the parameters

required to determine accurately the aeroplane
flight path, speed, attitude, engine power and
configuration of lift and drag devices.
 Recorder Type Requirements

Type IA FDR. This FDR shall be capable of
recording, as appropriate to the aeroplane, at
least the 78 parameters in Table A8-1.

Type I FDR. This FDR shall be capable of

recording, as appropriate to the aeroplane, at
least the first 32 parameters in Table A8-1.

Types II and IIA FDRs. These FDRs shall be

capable of recording, as appropriate to the
aeroplane, at least the first 16 parameters in Table
A8-1.
 Recorder Type Requirements
Which type of recorder fitted depends on:

Date of certification

Weight of aircraft

Type of engine
 ICAO Annex 6 Chapter 6
6.3.1 Flight data recorders and aircraft data
recording systems

Note 3.—Parameters to be recorded are listed in

Tables A8-1 and A8-3 of Appendix 8.
 ICAO Annex 6 Chapter 11
11.6 Flight recorder records

An operator shall ensure, to the extent
possible, in the event the aeroplane
becomes involved in an accident or
incident, the preservation of all related
flight recorder records and, if
necessary, the associated flight
recorders, and their retention in safe
custody pending their disposition as
determined in accordance with Annex
13.
 ICAO Annex 6 Chapter 6
6.3.4.4 Flight recorder electronic documentation

Recommendation.— The documentation

requirement concerning FDR and ADRS
parameters provided by operators to accident
investigation authorities should be in electronic
format and take account of industry specifications.

Note.— Industry specification for documentation

concerning flight recorder parameters may be
found in the ARINC 647A,Flight Recorder
Electronic Documentation, or equivalent
document.
 ICAO Annex 6 Appendix 8

2.3.3 Documentation concerning parameter
allocation, conversion equations, periodic
calibration and other serviceability/maintenance
information shall be maintained by the operator.
The documentation needs to be sufficient to
ensure that accident investigation authorities
have the necessary information to read out the
data in engineering units.
 Flight recorder certification
standards

6.3.1 Flight data recorders and aircraft data

recording systems

Note 1.— FDR and AIR performance requirements

are as contained in the EUROCAE ED-112, Minimum
Operational Performance Specification (MOPS) for
Crash Protected Airborne Recorder Systems, or
equivalent documents.
 EUROCAE (European Organisation
for Civil Aviation Equipment)

70 member organizations (private, public)

14 nations worldwide

7 public organizations

17 working groups

600 engineers
 EUROCAE ED112

MOPS : Minimum Operational
Performance Specifications

Crash Survival Tests specifications
 Impact Shock (3400 Gs 6.5ms)
 Penetration (227kg w 6 mm pin dropped
from 3 m)
 Static crush (22,25 KN {5000 lbs} on all
axis for 5 mins)
 High temperature fire (1100 Deg C for 1
hour)
 Low temperature fire (260 deg C for 10
hours)
 Deep sea pressure (6000 m)
 Sea water immersion (3 m for 30 Days)
 Fluid immersion (48 hours)
 FLIREC Panel

Established in 1994

Technical experts - Australia, Canada,

China, France, Germany, Iran, Italy,
Russian Federation, Spain, UK, USA

Organisations – IATA, IFALPA

 FLIREC Panel

Review status of technology

Propose ICAO flight recorder provisions
inline with technological developments

Keep abreast with future technological
developments

Prepare amendment proposals for Annex 6
guidance material and new procedures
 Evolution of Recorders
Types of recorders

Foil

Photographic

Magnetic Wire

Magnetic Tape

Solid State (Computer Chips)
Evolution of Recorders
Foil

Oscillographic recorder

Used needles to scribe onto metal foil.

Held 6 parameters

Held data up to 400 hours

Foil had to be changed

Unreliable
 Evolution of Recorders
Foil

The use of engraving metal foil

FDRs shall be discontinued.
 Evolution of Recorders
Photographic

Used light moved by mirrors to burn a data
trace onto a 90 mm wide roll of light
sensitive paper

Paper had to be changed

Data was lost if paper was exposed to light
after a crash.
 Evolution of Recorders
Photographic

The use of photographic film FDRs

shall be discontinued.
Evolution of Recorders
Magnetic Wire

Used metal wire to record the data
digitally

Media was in an endless loop and did
not require to be changed regularly
Evolution of Recorders

Magnetic Wire
Evolution of Recorders
Magnetic Tape

Uses Mylar tape a plastic tape coated
with magnetic material

Media was in an endless loop

Data was recorded in digital format

It was recorded onto 8 tracks

Tape would wear out over time

Downloading could take 2 – 8 hours
Recommendation.— The use of magnetic tape
Evolution
FDRs should beof Recorders
discontinued by 1 January 2011.
Magnetic Tape

The use of magnetic tape FDRs shall

be discontinued by 1 January 2016.
Evolution of Recorders
Solid State

No moving parts

Reliable

Low maintenance
Evolution of Recorders
Solid State
Evolution of Recorders
Damaged Recorders
How is the data recorded?
 How is the data recorded?

The parameters are recorded as raw binary
data (1s and 0s)

The format used is ARINC standard

Parameters to be recorded are determined

by the DFDAU NOT the recorder
 Example of Raw Data

Sub 1

Sub 2

Sub 3

Sub 4
 Data Frame

The data frame file converts the raw
data into engineering values

There could be several different data
frame files for aircraft in the same
aircraft family (B737,B777)

The data frame may be dependant on
engine configuration, EFIS equipped, etc
 What is good to know

Aircraft type and Data Frame version (Take
note if the DFDAU has been upgraded for older aircraft)

What is the quality of the data?

 Possible bad recorder (refer to previous annual
readout to verify)
 Possible faulty connection
 Tape may shift due to impact

When was the Data Frame file validated?

Obtain a copy of the raw data for records
 FDR
Data presentation
 3 ways FDR data can be viewed

Spreadsheets

Graphical charts

Animation
Spreadsheet
Graphical Chart
 Colours

Choose colours that are not similar

Keep key parameter (e.g. Magnetic
Heading, Pressure Altitude, etc) colours
consistent if the same parameter is on
several pages

Avoid light colours

Use text boxes to annotate key events. (use
the same colour as the parameter if necessary)
Format of Plot
Format of Plot
X Axis Scale
X Axis Scale cont’d
 Sample Rate

Examples of parameter sampling at 8/sec, 4/sec, and 1/sec

Data presentation in a graph

Which way is the aircraft turning?

What is positive?
Data presentation in a graph

Same data with a different Y-Axis scale

Heading Wrap
Altitude data
 Remember

The data is to help understand the event
and should be easily read

Communicate what parameters, and how
you would like these parameters to be
presented

In order to write the report you have to
understand the data. Do not be afraid to
ask for clarifications
Animations
 Uses of animations

An animation should only be made after
the data has been verified

Animations are good for briefings and crew
training

More than 100 parameters can be shown to
give a clearer picture of what is happening
 Take Note

Animations are a recreation of the
recorded parameters that are
recorded at different sample rates.
There is interpolation of the data
between data points.
 Where to readout

Plan before a crisis occurs

Places in Asia with Readout facilities:
 China
 India
 Australia
 Indonesia
 Japan
 Taiwan
 Republic of Korea
 Singapore
AAIB download equipment
AAIB Analysis and Animation Software
 AAIB’s capabilities
CVR download
AlliedSignal/Honeywell SSCVR
Fairchild/Loral/L3 A100S
Fairchild/Loral/L3 A200S
Fairchild/Loral/L3 FA2100
FDR download
Lockheed LAS209/PV1584
Sundstrand/AlliedSignal DFDR
Sundstrand/AlliedSignal UFDR
Fairchild/Loral/L3 F800
AlliedSignal/Honeywell SSUFDR, SSFDR
Loral/L3 F1000
Loral/L3 FA2100
AAIB Singapore offers the use of its facility
for no charge.

Please feel free to contact us for assistance

 Contact Information
Michael Alan Toft
michael_toft@mot.gov.sg
(65) 6541 2797
Thank you
Questions?
 -End -

Session 9

Flight Recorder
SEMINAR ON AIRCRAFT ACCIDENT INCIDENT INVESTIGATION
11-15 AUGUST 2014

65