Airbus to install new “black boxes”

Airbus will install Automatic Deployable Flight Recorders (ADFRs) and new Cockpit Voice Data Recorders (CVDRs) on its airliners. The ADFR is an aerofoil which can fly in the slipstream and float on water


ADFR: Mounted flush into skin of aircraft’s tail

CVDR: Capable of recording 25 hours of voice and flight data, an increase from current 2-hour limit

ADFR: Deploys automatically using spring system in event of water submersion or structural deformation of aircraft

Aerofoil: Designed to float indefinitely and transmit location and ID of aircraft emergency beacon via satellite

ELT: Emergency Locator Transmitter

Lightweight data recorder does not need same crash-protection as regular recorder

Hydrostatic sensors trigger deployment at depth of 2 metres


Sources: Airbus, Aviation Week, Flight Global, L3 Aviation Products 

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