NTSB Issues Recommendation A-15-003 to FAA for Extended Overwater Flight Data Recovery
The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate enhanced flight data recorder capabilities for specific commercial aircraft operations.
Safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate enhanced flight data recorder capabilities for specific commercial aircraft operations.
In safety recommendation DCA14SS009, designated as A-15-003, the National Transportation Safety Board addressed the Federal Aviation Administration regarding the requirements for cockpit voice recorders and flight data recorders. The board urged the agency to require that all newly manufactured aircraft used in extended overwater operations be equipped with a means to recover mandatory flight data parameters. This requirement applies specifically to aircraft operating under Title 14 Code of Federal Regulations Part 121 or Part 135 that are already mandated to carry these recording devices. The recommended recovery method must not require underwater retrieval, ensuring data can be accessed more efficiently. Furthermore, the recommendation specifies that the data capture system should record from a triggering event until the end of the flight and for as long a time period before the triggering event as possible to preserve critical information.