AR ZONE
CRASH ANALYSIS: BLACK BOX FLIGHT RECORDERS
What makes these essential devices found on most aircraft virtually indestructible?
WORDS AILSA HARVEY
The chances of being in a fatal aeroplane crash are extremely low because of advances in aerospace engineering. One of the devices that helps grow our understanding of how planes crash is the black box flight recorder. This device is made up of two parts: the flight data recorder and the cockpit voice recorder. Combined, these components collect in-depth data about the moments and cockpit communications on board a failing plane. This data includes airspeed, altitude, aircraft positioning, vertical acceleration and environmental conditions. Using this information, investigators can conclude the main fault in plane incidents when key witnesses haven’t survived to tell the tale.