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
Europe:
EASA: European Aviation Safety Authorities
Eurocae : European Organization for Civil
Aviation Equipment (ED112, ED55, ED56)
USA:
ICAO Annex 6
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 (ED112 …)
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
Type
of aircraft
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
Recorders
FDRs
should beof
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