The black box is an automatic recording device that every aircraft must have during flight. It enables the identification of causes in case of an accident.
Why is it necessary to find the black box after each accident?
The term black box does not actually refer to the color of the box. This device is primarily orange, a color chosen so that rescue teams can easily locate it.
A black box from an aircraft.
It actually refers to two small devices, namely the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which operate continuously and derive power from the host aircraft’s engine. Additionally, there is a backup power source available to ensure signal transmission remains active even when separated from the aircraft.
The black box records the activities of all aircraft from the moment they take off. It provides information regarding the speed, altitude, and other movements of the aircraft. Each piece of information is recorded in the form of holes in a thin metal strip. This recording device is securely housed in a box designed to withstand impact, is highly sealed, and is fireproof. In the event of an accident, it remains protected intact. Moreover, the black box is equipped with a locator system that allows its position to be identified even when submerged underwater.
The cockpit recording device and the black box assist in determining the cause of an accident, even when there are no survivors, thereby enhancing aircraft safety.
When an aircraft crashes into the sea or a river, the signaling device will emit ultrasonic signals. Typically, the black box can withstand temperatures of up to 1,100 degrees Celsius for 30 minutes continuously and can be submerged at depths of up to 6,100 meters for 30 days.
Location of the black box. (Photo: BBC)
Each signaling device can transmit ultrasonic waves once per second continuously during this critical period. This is the timeframe that search teams must utilize to locate the black box before the ability to search is completely lost.
After every aircraft accident, the black box becomes a focal point of interest, often as significant as the rescue of victims or addressing the aftermath.
Why is that so?
Simply put, since the accident has already occurred, finding the black box enables investigators to determine the cause, rectify shortcomings, and prevent future accidents.
Dissecting the black box.
Upon locating the black box, investigators must analyze the records. This process can take two to three days, depending on the duration of the flight and the complexity of the data. Currently, only a few countries in the world possess the technological capability to perform this analysis, including the United States, Canada, Australia, the United Kingdom, and France.
Nowadays, with advanced scientific capabilities, satellite communication networks can fully capture and store data from most flights worldwide. But why don’t they implement this, leading to the need to search for the small black box that can only survive for 30 days?
In reality, this technology has already been deployed on hundreds of aircraft around the world. However, this number is still too small compared to the vast network of aircraft and flight routes globally.
Most airlines continue to rely on black boxes due to the high costs of upgrading. According to a study from 2002, each American airline would need to spend an additional approximately $300 million per year to maintain a global data transmission network. Meanwhile, the number of accidents per airline is relatively low, and if any occur, the costs of recovery are much lower than maintaining such an expensive network.
The capabilities of the black box primarily come into play after an aircraft accident. If everything is functioning normally, people might not even need to know what a black box is.
The “father” of the black box is David Ronald de Mey Warren, an Australian doctor.
It is known that an aircraft accident in 1934 claimed Warren’s father’s life when he was only 9 years old.
From the time of that tragedy until the 1950s, he diligently researched and developed a device to record flight data to assist investigations into any issues that arise, reducing the risk of future accidents.
In 1956, the product was officially launched but only began to attract public attention five years later, leading to its widespread adoption. This is the “black box” still commonly used today.
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