Black Box

Published on 28 Oct 2025

• The tragic crash of an Air India Boeing 787-8 in Ahmedabad highlights the vital role of black boxes in aviation investigations. 

• Australian scientist David Warren came up with the idea for the cockpit voice recorder after investigating the crash of the world's first commercial jet airliner, the Comet, in 1953.

• A black box comprises two parts:

1. Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR): Records radio transmissions, pilot voices, and engine sounds, crucial for understanding crew communications and ambient noise.

2. Flight Data Recorder (FDR): Monitors at least 88 parameters (like altitude, airspeed, heading) in new planes, potentially over 1,000, allowing for computer-animated flight reconstruction.

Note: Helicopters are equipped with a (single) combined recorder, capable of recording all the data needed to characterise the flight (time, heading, altitude, power, temperature, rotor speed, outside temperature, etc.).

Keywords:

Black Box Air India Boeing Cockpit Voice Recorder CVR Flight Data Recorder David Warren Aviation