INSTRUMENTS AND RECORDERS, FLIGHT RECORDER SYSTEM
Description
Aircraft Operations Manual
12/3.1
O2
PAGE
1
Apr 01/15
OPTION A/C 251
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up
1.
GENERAL
The Flight Recorder system consists of four units:
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The Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU) that col-
lects and arranges the data.
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The Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR) that
records the data on a magnetic tape.
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The Flight Data Entry Panel (FDEP) for insertion
of documentary data and monitoring lights.
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The triaxial accelerometer.
The Flight Recorder system becomes powered and
and starts to operate as soon as one engine is run-
ning and one generator on line.
2.
MAIN COMPONENTS AND SUBSYSTEMS
2.1
Flight Data Acquisition Unit (FDAU)
The FDAU, installed in the avionics rack, samples
data from various sensors and systems according
to a prearranged program which includes different
sampling rates for various parameters. Parameters
prone to high rate of change consequently have the
highest sampling rate while, for example, switch
positions are sampled with a low rate. Analogue
parameters are converted into digital numbers and
all parameters are formatted into a data stream in
which each data word has its fixed location. The
word can thus be easily found on the recorder tape
and recovered for analysis on ground, for example
transcribed into more conveniently readable form,
altitude in feet etc.
2.2
Digital Flight Data Recorder (DFDR)
This is a recorder with a crashproof tape magazine
installed in the rear compartment. The recorder
uses magnetic tape and is of the continuous type
which means that all data is recorded in a continu-
ous stream. However, the recorder can not hold
more data than that corresponding to approximately
25 flight hours. When the tape is filled up, the oldest
data is therefore automatically erased and new data
entered instead. The tape may therefore be looked
upon as an endless band, holding information from
the last 25 flight hours. To prevent unintentional
blanking of recorded data during ground stops or at
maintenance, a relay controlled by either engine oil
pressure, switches off the Flight Recorder when
engines are not running. The recorder unit is pro-
vided with an underwater locator beacon, automati-
cally started when submerged in water. It is battery
powered and transmits an acoustic signal for 30
days. The recorder has a feature that allows the
tape to be played back on ground and for dumping
of flight data.
2.3
Flight Data Entry Panel (FDEP)
The FDEP is provided with thumb wheel switches
and a pushbutton for selection and insert of flight
data to be recorded on the tape.
The panel is also provided with caution lights for
DFDR or FDAU failures and also an Event pushbut-
ton to mark events during aircraft operations. The
FDEP also has a MEM light to indicate that the
FDAU/ETM memory storage capacity is 80% full.
2.4
Triaxial accelerometer
The accelerometer provides the system with data
for vertical, longitudinal and lateral axis.
2.5
Engine Trend Monitoring
A totally independent function is also available in
the FDAU. This independently operating micropro-
cessor controlled feature samples certain parame-
ters available through the existing ”normal” FDAU
processing and decides when certain conditions are
met to sample engine performance. This function is
normally referred to as Engine Trend Monitoring
(ETM) and the following ETM conditions are moni-
tored:
1.
Takeoff Report
2.
Cruise Report
3.
Limit Exceedance Report
4.
Event Marker Report
The ETM function can store up to 30 takeoff and
cruise reports (i.e. 15 flights), 20 event marker and
20 exceedance reports. Subsequent reports will
overwrite the oldest reports stored.
When 80% of available memory capacity is used up
(i.e. 24 ”normal” flights), the FDAU will activate a
MEMory light on the Flight Data Entry Panel. This
light only serves to alert the crew of impending
memory overwrite and subsequent loss of old data.
