20-141B - Airworthiness and Operational Approval of Digital Flight Data Recorder Systems

Date Issued

August 17, 2010

Responsible Office

AIR-130,  Aviation Safety - Aircraft Certification Service, Aircraft Engineering Division

Description

This advisory circular (AC) provides guidance on compliance with the applicable Regulations for the airworthiness and operational approval for digital flight data recorder systems (DFDRS).

This advisory circular (AC) provides information on certification (design and installation) and continued airworthiness of digital flight data recorder systems (DFDRS). DFDRS provide information for an investigative authority—the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) in the United States—to conduct more thorough investigations of accidents and incidents. The data recorded is also used by operators to enable the prediction of trends that may be useful in determining modifications needed to avoid accidents and incidents.

This AC provides information to applicants for a supplemental type certificate (STC), and to individuals who are responsible for establishing and maintaining compliance under the operating rules for digital flight data recorders (DFDR). Aircraft manufacturers who intend to install DFDRs in newly manufactured aircraft could also use this information.

This AC is not mandatory and is not a regulation. This AC describes an acceptable means, but not the only means, to comply with Title 14 of the Code of Federal Regulations (14 CFR).

 

• AC 20-141B (PDF, 643 KB)