Do Light Aircraft Have Black Boxes?

It is common knowledge even to aviation nonenthusiasts how important black boxes are in an aircraft. In the event of an airplane accident, Flight Data Recorders — as they are officially called — are the go-to equipment investigators rely on for information. However, the majority of us are only familiar with heavy commercial airliners. We fly them without a rethink — somehow confident that they are fitted with a black box. But what about light aircraft?

Do light aircraft have black boxes too? Most light aircraft in use today do not have black boxes. And there are a couple of reasons for this — the most prominent being weight, costs, and complexity. While black boxes are mandatory for commercial and business aircraft, the aviation authorities in the US and most other countries do not require them for other types of aircraft. But few stakeholders in the aviation industry do question the rationale behind this.

Each time public figures like NBA player Kobe Bybrant and footballer Emiliano Sala die, a lot of questions are raised concerning the need for black boxes in smaller planes. For example, the search for the US-registered Piper Malibu plane Emiliano Sala was on could definitely have lasted shorter if the plane had a black box.

Though aircraft registered in Europe are required to have an emergency transmitter that can be used to make search operations easier, they still cannot take the place of black boxes. The majority of black boxes can record as much as 25 hours of data — more than enough information to solve a crash case. If flight recorders have proven their utility beyond doubt, why then are they not fitted in most light aircraft?

Why Don’t Light Aircraft Have Black Boxes?

As much as safety is a priority in aviation, there are a couple of other factors that play an important role in the final choices aircraft manufacturers take when producing their products. It is very important to note that the most crucial reason why manufacturers do not include a black box in light aircraft is that most aviation authorities do not mandate it. If it was a legal requirement, designers will definitely find a way to get around all the technical problems.

However, in practical terms, the weight, cost, complexity of black boxes are the main reasons why they are not fitted in the majority of small planes. The number of passengers in the aircraft is another factor manufacturers and aviation authorities consider. Black boxes can also cause a design problem for light aircraft. In larger aircraft, they are often located in the rear of the fuselage. Fitting them into light aircraft could be just a little harder. But this is not a major setback in most cases.

Weight

Weight is a very important factor while designing and choosing different components of any type of aircraft. Due to the enormous weight of larger aircraft, the additional weight (about 10 kg) of a black box doesn’t really make much of a difference. But this is not the case with light aircraft which need less thrust. Typically, an aircraft is considered light when its weight is below 5,670 kg but this figure can go as low as 162.7 kg as in the case of the Guinness World Record holder Bede BD-5.

Costs

Black boxes aren’t cheap also. They are often made up of two different components — the cockpit voice recorders and the flight data recorders. The combined cost of producing these units can range from $10,000 to $16,000. In order to withstand the circumstances they are built for, black boxes have to be made from the most durable materials. And these materials go a long way to add to the final production cost. At the rate at which most light aircraft are sold, it may not be economical to include this device in every single unit.

But there are definitely exceptions. Though it is not a requirement in light aircraft, some still include black boxes. For example, the Cessna Citation Mustang (Model 510 to be precise) is fitted with a black box. While they’re no longer in production, the 6-seat 3921 kg aircraft appears to be one of the lightest you’ll find with a black box in.

Aircraft Requiring Black Boxes

It is a general rule that flight recorders must be included in all commercial airliners and business jets. But black boxes weren’t required in any aircraft of any size until 1960. And it was first made compulsory by law in Australia. This came to be after the investigation and inquiry of a Fokker Friendship plane crash in Mackay, Queensland. At this hearing, the judge made strong recommendations concerning the installment of black boxes in all aircraft. It was later signed into law. The US also followed suit and passed CVR rules in 1967.

Now, by legislation, the inclusion of cockpit voice recorders is mandated in:

• Turbine-powered planes with 4 large engines;
• Pressurized planes with 4 large engines;
• Turbine-powered planes with multiple engines carrying 10 or more passengers;
• Turbine-powered rotorcraft with multiple engines carrying 20 or more passengers and;
• Turbine-powered rotorcraft and planes with multiple engines carrying 6 or more passengers and 2 pilots.

Likewise, flight data recorders must be included in:

• Turbine-powered rotorcraft and planes carrying 10 or more passengers;
• Turbine-powered rotorcraft and planes with multiple engines carrying 6 or more passengers and 2 pilots;
• Large aircraft that cruise at altitudes above 25,000 feet and;
• Turbine-powered planes in the transport category.

These requirements are regulated and enforced by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO).

Should More Light Aircraft Have Black Boxes?

Having already established the role of black boxes in aircraft safety, it goes without saying that we need to get them in as many aircraft as possible. New technologies are already attending to the major setbacks manufacturers face in the incorporation of flight recorders in more light aircraft. So, black boxes may soon be lighter and more cost-effective. Manufacturers like Curtiss-Wright are focusing more on creating lighter-weight black boxes that will readily fit in light aircraft.

Some of the steps that are engaging include:

• The incorporation of modern composite materials — ultra-lightweight titanium in particular. By using computer-aided design techniques to analyze different materials and compare structural specifications, they can actually achieve the optimum weight for flight recorders.
• The use of advanced electronic storage drives that are both cheaper and smaller. The integrated components on modern black boxes will be significantly lighter than the older models.

This is why a handful of newer light aircraft models offer the ability to install black boxes in them. Many lightweight Airbus helicopters weighing as low as 1,241 kg include this feature. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) also encourages private aircraft owners to consider this option.

Conclusion

A black box is surely an important piece of safety equipment that every aircraft should have. However, due to the different technical and economic issues associated with them, aviation authorities do not make them mandatory for the majority of light aircraft at the moment. But as technology improves, we can expect to see black boxes on more light aircraft in the future.