§29.1457 Cockpit voice recorders

(See AMC 29.1457) (a) Each cockpit voice recorder required by the applicable operating rules must be approved, and must be installed so that it will record the following: (1) Voice communications transmitted from or received in the rotorcraft by radio. (2) Voice communications of flight-crew members on the flight deck. (3) Voice communications of flight-crew members on the flight deck, using the rotorcraft’s inter-phone system. (4) Voice or audio signals identifying navigation or approach aids introduced into a headset or speaker. (5) Voice communications of flight-crew members using the passenger loudspeaker system, if there is such a system, and if the fourth channel is available in accordance with the requirements of sub-paragraph (c)(4)(ii). (b) The recording requirements of sub-paragraph (a)(2) may be met: (1) By installing a cockpit-mounted area microphone, located in the best position for recording voice communications originating at the first and second pilot stations and voice communications of other crew members on the flight deck when directed to those stations; or (2) By installing a continually energised or voice-actuated lip microphone at the first and second pilot stations. The microphone specified in this paragraph must be so located and, if necessary, the preamplifiers and filters of the recorder must be so adjusted or supplemented, that the recorded communications are intelligible when recorded under flight cockpit noise conditions and played back. The level of intelligibility must be approved by the Agency. Repeated aural or visual playback of the record may be used in evaluating intelligibility. (c) Each cockpit voice recorder must be installed so that the part of the communication or audio signals specified in sub-paragraph (a) obtained from the following sources is recorded on at least four separate channels: (1) From each microphone, headset, or speaker used at the first pilot station. (2) From each microphone, headset, or speaker used at the second pilot station. (3) From the cockpit-mounted area microphone, or the continually energised or voice-actuated lip microphones at the first and second pilot stations. (4) From: (i) each microphone, headset, or speaker used at the stations for the third and fourth crew members; or (ii) if the stations specified in sub-paragraph (c)(4)(i) are not required or if the signal at such a station is picked up by another channel, each microphone on the flight deck that is used with the passenger loudspeaker system if its signals are not picked up by another channel. (iii) Each microphone on the flight deck that is used with the rotorcraft’s loudspeaker system, if its signals are not picked up by another channel. No channel shall record communication or audio signals from more than one of the following sources: the first pilot station, second pilot station, cockpit-mounted area microphone, and additional crew member stations. (d) Each cockpit voice recorder must be installed so that: (1) (i) It receives its electrical power from the bus that provides the maximum reliability for operation of the recorder without jeopardising service to essential or emergency loads; and (ii) It remains powered for as long as possible without jeopardising the emergency operation of the rotorcraft; (2) There is an automatic means to stop the recording within 10 minutes after crash impact; (3) There is an aural or visual means for pre-flight checking of the recorder for proper operation. (4) Any single electrical failure that is external to the recorder does not disable both the cockpit voice recorder function and the flight data recorder function; (5) There is a means for the flight crew to stop the cockpit voice recorder function upon completion of the flight in a way such that re-enabling the cockpit voice recorder function is only possible by dedicated manual action; and (6) It has an alternate power source: — that provides 10 minutes of electrical power to operate both the recorder and the cockpit-mounted area microphone; and — to which the recorder and the cockpit-mounted area microphone are switched automatically in the event that all other power to the recorder is interrupted either by a normal shutdown or by any other loss of power. (e) The container of the recording medium must be located and mounted so as to minimise the probability of the container rupturing, the recording medium being destroyed, or the underwater locating device failing as a result of any possible combinations of: — impact with the Earth’s surface; — the heat damage caused by a post-impact fire; and — immersion in water. (f) If the cockpit voice recorder has an erasure device or function, the installation must be designed to minimise the probabilities of inadvertent operation and of actuation of the erasure device or function during crash impact. (g) The recorder container of the cockpit voice recorder must: (1) be bright orange; (2) have reflective tape affixed to its external surface to facilitate locating it; and (3) have an underwater locating device on or adjacent to the container which is secured in such a manner that they are not likely to be separated during crash impact.