flight recorder

flight recorder

Instrument that records the performance and condition of an aircraft in flight. Regulatory agencies require these devices on commercial aircraft to make possible the analysis of crashes or other unusual occurrences. They are housed in heavy steel within layers of insulation, protecting them against impacts and fires. The recording tape is also protected against inadvertent erasure and contact with seawater. It records airspeed, altitude, heading, vertical acceleration, and aircraft pitch. It also includes a separate device that records voice communication within the aircraft and by radio. Both recorders are carried in the tail of the aircraft.

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flight recorder

an electronic device fitted to an aircraft for storing information concerning its performance in flight. It is often used to determine the cause of a crash

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flight recorder [′flīt ri‚kȯrd·ər]

(engineering)

Any instrument or device that records information about the performance of an aircraft in flight or about conditions encountered in flight, for future study and evaluation.