In Aero India, Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd has received the Indian Technical Standard Order (ITSO) authorisation from the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) for its indigenously developed Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR). CVR and FDR are popularly known as ‘black boxes’. However, these recorders are painted orange colour to help in their recovery following an aircraft accident. CVR and FDR are used to record critical flight parameters and audio environment in a crash-proof memory which is later used for investigation of aircraft incidents or accidents.
Why is it called a black box?
The term “black box” was a World War II British phrase, originating with the development of radio, radar, and electronic navigational aids in British and Allied combat aircraft. These often-secret electronic devices were literally encased in non-reflective black boxes or housings. A black box is a flight data recorder that must be in every air vehicle. All flight information is recorded in the black box with a specific algorithm. This makes the recorded flight data accessible to authorities when needed.
