Question
Which of the following statements with regard to Black Boxes used in modern aircrafts is/are correct?
1. They carry a beacon emitting red light pulses to facilitate underwater detection.
2. They record both the cockpit voice and flight data.
3. Their memory units are made using either stainless steel or titanium.
Explanation
The black box is designed to preserve crucial flight information even after a severe accident. It mainly consists of two recording systems and is equipped with a beacon to help locate it underwater.
Statement 1 — Incorrect: A black box is equipped with an Underwater Locator Beacon (ULB), which activates when submerged and emits acoustic pulses to help search teams locate it using sonar. It does not emit light pulses, as light cannot travel effectively through deep seawater.
Statement 2 — Correct: The term “black box” generally refers to two recording devices: the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR), which records cockpit sounds and communications, and the Flight Data Recorder (FDR), which records parameters such as altitude, airspeed, heading and acceleration.
Statement 3 — Correct: The recorded data is stored inside a Crash-Survivable Memory Unit (CSMU), which is heavily protected against extreme impact, fire and pressure. Its protective casing uses strong materials such as stainless steel or titanium along with thermal insulation.
Therefore, Statements 2 and 3 are correct.