scope:

PURPOSE AND SCOPE

This document defines the minimum specification to be met for all aircraft required to carry flight recorders which may record flight data; cockpit audio; images and data link digital messages; in a crash-protected recording medium for the purposes of the investigation of an occurrence (accident or incident). It is applicable to on board crash-protected recorders, Transmission of Flight Recorder Data (TFRD) systems, ancillary equipment and their installation in civil aircraft.

General

This document responds to a need for improved recording of vital information needed for aviation safety investigations. With the rapidly advancing technology used in aircraft, the introduction of data link concepts and the feasibility of digital image recordings, EUROCAE recognized the need to revise recorder requirements and to integrate all of the accident investigation recording requirements into one complete, integrated document. This document therefore defines all recording functions (flight data, cockpit voice, images & data link) as individual Parts along with a common section, applicable to all Parts. Parts may be revised independently of each other and independently of the main body of this document. A similar MOPS exists for lightweight flight recording systems.

Description of Content

This document is divided into six sections and five parts, as shown in Figure 1-1.1.

Section 1 describes typical equipment applications and operational objectives. Background material and accident/incident investigation considerations are included together with a description of the recording systems. Definitions and Abbreviations essential to proper understanding of this document are provided.

Section 2 defines the requirements that are common to all crash-protected recording systems.

Section 3 defines the requirements that are specific to Deployable Recorders.

Section 4 defines the requirements that are specific to Combination Recorders.

Section 5 defines the requirements that are specific to Recorder Independent Power Supplies.

Section 6 defines the requirements specific to the Transmission of Flight Recorder Data (TFRD) systems that can be used to aid in the timely recovery of flight recorder data, which can include accident data from aircraft that are lost in deep water, mountainous terrain or in areas difficult to reach. This section does not define the ground system that will be needed to recover data transmitted off an aircraft.

Part I defines the requirements that are specific to Cockpit Voice Recorder Systems.

Part II defines the requirements that are specific to Flight Data Recorder Systems.

Part III defines the requirements that are specific to Image Recorder Systems.

Part IV defines the requirements that are specific to Airborne Data Link Recorder Systems.

Part V defines the requirements that are specific to Flight Crew Machine Interface Recording systems (FCMIRs).

All flight recording systems shall be designed to meet the criteria of Sections 1 and 2 plus the relevant function specific section(s) and Parts.