After an aviation accident, you may hear that investigators are looking for black box data. Maybe they have found the black box at the crash site and they’re analyzing that data. Perhaps they believe that the key to understanding why the accident occurred is stored there.
Essentially, a black box is a recorder. It keeps track of important information from the airplane. This includes the flight data and readings from the controls. For instance, the black box may be able to tell investigators if the plane suddenly lost altitude right before crashing. This can sometimes help them determine the reason for the crash.
In many cases, the black box also has an audio recording system. The conversations that the pilots have – either with each other or with ground control – are stored there. This provides a lasting record of what happened on the plane and can be compared to other data to see when certain issues or events took place. In short, it is a way for investigators to get more information about the accident, even if they don’t arrive on the scene for hours or days.
It can help with location data
Finally, a black box can sometimes help inform investigators about the plane’s location. For instance, some of the black boxes used on passenger planes even operate underwater. They are designed to transmit from the ocean floor for up to three months. This can help search teams locate missing aircraft.
After an aviation accident, black box data is incredibly important when determining fault. Those involved in a subsequent legal case need to know about all of the options they have at their disposal.