Airbus to fit deployable and fixed data and voice recovery devices on planes

In collaboration with L3 Technologies, Airbus is to implement new deployable and fixed flight recorders on its airline programs. Two versions are to be produced, one which is a crash-protected Cockpit Voice and Data Recorder (CVDR) capable of recording 25 hours of data on one single recorder. The second version is an Automated Deployable Flight Recorder (ADFR).

The CVDR will meet EASA and ICAO requirements and beyond, the 25-hour voice recording time exceeding the current two-hour minimum, and two of these would be fitted to the shorter-range A320s. The ADFR is more suited to longer-range jets such as the Airbus A321LR, A330, A350 XWB and A380 that will have extended flight times over water or remote areas.

The ADFR offers a new capability to commercial airliners: automatic deployment in the event of significant structural deformation or water submersion. It is designed to float, and the crash-protected memory module contains up to 25 hours of recorded cockpit voice and flight data. It will be equipped with an integrated Emergency Locator Transmitter (ELT) to aid rescue teams to swiftly locate and recover flight recorders.

The deployable ADFR will be fitted in the rear of the plane’s fuselage, while a fixed CVDR will be installed nearer the front, so greatly increasing the redundancy for both voice and flight data recovery when compared with current systems. The ADFR unit together with its mechanical ejection system is to be designed and manufactured by DRS Technologies Canada Ltd. and integrated by L3 in partnership with Airbus cross-programme Engineering.

The new recording systems will first be available from 2019 on the A350 XWB, with deployment on all other Airbus aircraft types thereafter.

In a statement from Charles Champion, Executive Vice President of Engineering at Airbus Commercial Aircraft said: “Airbus, together with L3 Technologies and Leonardo DRS, is very pleased to be leading the commercial aircraft industry in implementing into our aircraft new deployable flight data and 25-hour voice recording capability.

“Starting with the very long-range A350 XWB, we look forward to progressively installing these new voice and data recovery devices across our entire product range.”