NTSB Issues Recommendation to FAA for Extended Cockpit Voice Recorder Recording Duration
The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate that all newly manufactured airplanes equipped with cockpit voice recorders must be fitted with units capable of recording the last 25 hours of audio.
Safety recommendation
The National Transportation Safety Board has directed the Federal Aviation Administration to mandate that all newly manufactured airplanes equipped with cockpit voice recorders must be fitted with units capable of recording the last 25 hours of audio.
In a formal recommendation designated as A-18-030, the National Transportation Safety Board addressed the Federal Aviation Administration regarding safety standards for aircraft audio recording systems. The NTSB identified a need to enhance the preservation of critical flight data by extending the retention period for cockpit voice recordings. Specifically, the board urged the FAA to require that all newly manufactured airplanes that are mandated to have a cockpit voice recorder be fitted with a device capable of recording the last 25 hours of audio. This measure aims to ensure that a more comprehensive window of cockpit activity is preserved for future safety investigations and analysis.