What is a black box in an airplane? All you need to know

Jun 09, 2023

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By India Today Information Desk: The black box, also referred to as a ‘flight data recorder’, is an instrument that documents all of the operations of the aircraft while it is in flight.

Typically, an aeroplane has two black boxes located at the front and rear of the aircraft. These keep track of flight data and aid in the reconstruction of an aircraft crash's sequence of events.

The titanium material that makes up the black box and the titanium box that it is contained in give it the strength to survive any shock if it falls into the water or from a great height.

An electronic recording system called a ‘black box’ is installed in an aeroplane to help in accident and incident investigations. Flight recorders are what they are called.

Each flight consists of two separate recording devices that can be joined to form a single unit. The size of a shoe box is a black box.

Flight Data Recorder: This device is capable of storing data on direction, altitude, fuel, speed, turbulence, cabin temperature, and other things. It is possible to record roughly 88 of these values for about 25 hours. This container can endure temperatures of 260°C for ten hours and around 11000°C for one hour. These boxes are easily identifiable since they are either red or pink in colour.

Cockpit Voice Recorder: This device captures the last two hours' worth of aeroplane noise. In order to forecast the state of the plane before any accidents occur, it records the sound of the engine, the emergency alarm, the cabin, and the cockpit.

A gadget that can provide information regarding the causes of airline accidents and could possibly aid in preventing mishaps was thought to be necessary given the rising frequency of jet crashes. Consequently, a black box was created.

Originally, the box was red, earning the moniker ‘Red Egg’. As the box's interior walls were black, it earned the name ‘Black Box’.

Considering that the black box is built of durable metal, as was previously stated. It can function without electricity for 30 days. 11000°C is the highest temperature it can withstand. If this box is lost somewhere, it will continue to beep and send out waves for roughly 30 days.

The investigators can recognise this voice at a distance of roughly 2-3 kilometres. The black box's ability to emit waves from a depth of 14,000 feet in the water is an intriguing fact.

Although a black box does not always provide a clear picture of a plane catastrophe and in some unintentional circumstances it may be difficult to locate, one thing is certain: it is crucial to the investigation of a plane crash.