NTSB Issues Safety Recommendation to FAA Regarding Boeing Flight Recorder Audio Quality

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has issued a safety recommendation, designated as A-14-126, addressed to the Federal Aviation Administration. This directive concerns NTSB investigation number DCA13IA037 and focuses on specific technical improvements for Boeing aircraft systems. The board is urging the FAA to require Boeing to improve the quality of the enhanced airborne flight recorder radio and hot microphone channels. Specifically, the recommendation calls for utilizing the maximum available dynamic range of these individual channels to ensure clearer audio capture. Additionally, the NSB has identified a need to enhance cockpit area microphone airborne recordings. To achieve this, Boeing must increase the level of crew conversation signals relative to the ambient background noise. This measure aims to provide more intelligible audio data for future safety analyses and investigations.