What Is a Black Box?
When an aviation accident occurs, officials usually begin their investigation by attempting to locate recording devices commonly known as black boxes. The devices record not only the conversations of the pilots and air traffic controllers, but also track details of the movement and behavior of the aircraft.
Flight data recorders (FDRs) and cockpit voice recorders (CVRs), commonly known as black boxes, are devices used to investigate the cause of an aviation accident. Orange-painted and crash-proofed, FDRs and CVRs preserve vital information, such as the airplane’s speed and altitude, and conversations between the pilot, copilot, and air traffic controllers.
