AMC3 CAT.IDE.A.190 Flight data recorder
CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1
PERFORMANCE SPECIFICATIONS FOR THE PARAMETERS TO BE RECORDED FOR AEROPLANES FIRST ISSUED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CofA ON OR AFTER 1 APRIL 1998 AND BEFORE 1 JANUARY 2016
Table 1: FDR
No |
Parameter |
Range |
Sampling interval in seconds |
Accuracy limits (sensor input compared to FDR readout) |
Recommended resolution in readout |
Remarks |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1a or |
Time |
24 hours |
4 |
± 0.125 % per hour |
1 second |
(a) UTC time preferred where available. |
1b |
Relative time count |
0 to 4 095 |
4 |
± 0.125 % per hour |
(b) Counter increments every 4 seconds of system operation. |
|
2 |
Pressure altitude |
-1 000 ft to maximum certificated altitude of aircraft +5 000 ft |
1 |
±100 ft to ±700 ft Refer to Table II-A.3 of EUROCAE Document ED-112 |
5 ft |
Should be obtained from air data computer when installed. |
3 |
Indicated airspeed or calibrated airspeed |
50 kt or minimum value installed pitot static system to Max VS0 Max VS0 to 1.2 VD |
1 |
±5 % ±3 % |
1 kt (0.5 kt recommended) |
Should be obtained from air data computer when installed. VS0: stalling speed or minimum steady flight speed in the landing configuration VD design diving speed |
4 |
Heading |
360 degrees |
1 |
±2 degrees |
0.5 degrees |
|
5 |
Normal acceleration |
-3 g to +6 g |
0.125 |
1 % of maximum range excluding a datum error of 5 % |
0.004 g |
The recording resolution may be rounded from 0.004 g to 0.01 g provided that one sample is recorded at full resolution at least every 4 seconds. |
6 |
Pitch attitude |
±75 degrees |
0.25 |
±2 degrees |
0.5 degrees |
|
7 |
Roll attitude |
±180 degrees |
0.5 |
±2 degrees |
0.5 degrees |
|
8 |
Manual radio transmission keying |
Discrete |
1 |
- |
- |
Preferably each crew member but one discrete acceptable for all transmissions provided that the replay of a recording made by any required recorder can be synchronised in time with any other required recording to within 1 second. |
9a |
Propulsive thrust/power on each engine |
Full range |
Each engine each second |
±2 % |
0.2 % of full range |
Sufficient parameters, e.g. EPR/N, or Torque/NP as appropriate to the particular engine must be recorded to determine power in both normal and reverse thrust. A margin for possible overspeed should be provided. |
9b |
Flight crew compartment thrust/power lever position |
Full range |
Each lever each second |
±2 % or sufficient to determine any gated position |
2 % of full range |
Parameter 9b must be recorded for aeroplanes with non-mechanically linked cockpit-engine controls, otherwise recommended. |
10 |
Trailing edge flap or flight crew compartment control selection |
Full range or each discrete position |
2 |
±3° or as pilot’s indicator and sufficient to determine each discrete position |
0.5 % of full range |
Flap position and cockpit control may be sampled at 4-second intervals so as to give a data point each 2 seconds. |
11 |
Leading edge flap or flight crew compartment control selection |
Full range or each discrete position |
1 |
±3° or as pilot’s indicator and sufficient to determine each discrete position |
0.5 % of full range |
Left and right sides, or flap position and cockpit control may be sampled at 2-second intervals so as to give a data point each second. |
12 |
Thrust reverser status |
Turbo-jet: stowed, in transit and reverse Turbo-prop: reverse |
Each reverser each second |
- |
- |
Turbo-jet: 2 discretes enable the 3 states to be determined Turbo-prop: 1 discrete |
13 |
Ground spoiler and/or speed brake selection |
Full range or each discrete position |
0.5 |
±2º unless higher accuracy uniquely required |
0.2 % of full range |
Sufficient to determine use of the cockpit selector and the activation and positions of the surfaces |
14 |
Outside air temperatures or total air temperature |
-50°C to +90°C or available sensor range |
2 |
±2ºC |
0.3ºC |
|
15 |
Autopilot/Autothrottle /AFCS mode and engagement status |
A suitable combination of discretes |
1 |
- |
- |
Discretes should show which systems are engaged and which primary modes are controlling the flight path and speed of the aircraft. |
16 |
Longitudinal acceleration (Body axis) |
± 1 g |
0.25 |
±1.5 % of maximum range excluding a datum error of ±5 % |
0.004 g |
The recording resolution may be rounded from 0.004 g to 0.01 g provided that one sample is recorded at full resolution at least every 4 seconds. |
17 |
Lateral acceleration |
±1 g |
0.25 |
±1.5 % of maximum range excluding a datum error of ±5 % |
0.004 g |
The recording resolution may be rounded from 0.004 g to 0.01 g provided that one sample is recorded at full resolution at least every 4 seconds. |
18 |
Primary flight controls, control surface positions and/or* pilot input |
Full range |
1 |
±2º unless higher accuracy uniquely required |
0.2 % of full range |
*For aeroplanes that can demonstrate the capability of deriving either the control input or control movement (one from the other) for all modes of operation and flight regimes, the ‘or’ applies. For aeroplanes with non- mechanical control systems, the ‘and’ applies. Where the input controls for each pilot can be operated independently, both inputs will need to be recorded. For multiple or split surfaces, a suitable combination of inputs is acceptable in lieu of recording each surface separately. |
18a |
Pitch axis |
|
0.25 |
|
|
|
18b |
Roll axis |
|
0.25 |
|
|
|
18c |
Yaw axis |
|
0.5 |
|
|
|
19 |
Pitch trim position |
Full range |
1 |
±3 % unless higher accuracy uniquely required |
0.3 % of full range |
Where dual surfaces are provided it is permissible to record each surface alternately. |
20 |
Radio altitude |
-20 ft to +2 500 ft |
1 |
As installed ±2 ft or ±3 % whichever is greater below 500 ft and ±5 % above 500 ft recommended. |
1 ft below 500 ft, 1 ft +0.5 % of full range above 500 ft |
For auto-land/category III operations, each radio altimeter should be recorded, but arranged so that at least one is recorded each second. |
21 |
Vertical beam deviation |
|
1 |
As installed ±3 % recommended |
0.3 % of full range |
Data from both the ILS and MLS systems need not to be recorded at the same time. The approach aid in use should be recorded. For auto-land/ category III operations, each radio altimeter should be recorded, but arranged so that at least one is recorded each second. |
21a |
ILS glide path |
±0.22 DDM or available sensor range as installed |
|
|
|
|
21b |
MLS elevation |
0.9° to 30° |
|
|
|
|
22 |
Horizontal beam deviation |
Signal range |
1 |
As installed ±3 % recommended |
0.3 % of full range |
See parameter 21 remarks. |
22a |
ILS Localiser |
±0.22 DDM or available sensor range as installed |
|
|
|
|
22b |
MLS azimuth |
±62° |
|
|
|
|
23 |
Marker beacon passage |
Discrete |
1 |
— |
— |
A single discrete is acceptable for all markers. |
24 |
Warnings |
Discretes |
1 |
– |
– |
A discrete must be recorded for the master warning. Each ‘red’ warning (including lavatory smoke) should be recorded when the warning condition cannot be determined from other parameters or from the cockpit voice recorder. |
25 |
Reserved |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
26 |
Reserved |
– |
– |
– |
– |
|
27 |
Landing gear squat switch status |
Discrete(s) |
1 (0.25 recommended for main gears) |
– |
– |
Discretes should be recorded for the nose and main landing gears. |
28 |
Ground proximity warning system (GPWS) |
Discrete |
1 |
– |
– |
A suitable combination of discretes unless recorder capacity is limited in which case a single discrete for all modes is acceptable. |
29 |
Angle of attack |
As installed |
0.5 |
As installed |
0.3 % of full range |
If left and right sensors are available, each may be recorded at 1-second intervals so as to give a data point each half second. |
30 |
Low pressure warning |
Discrete(s) or available sensor range |
2 |
- |
0.5 % of full range |
Each essential system to be recorded. |
30a |
Hydraulic power |
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30b |
Pneumatic power |
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31 |
Groundspeed |
As installed |
1 |
Data should be obtained from the most accurate system |
1 kt |
|
32 |
Landing gear or gear selector position |
Discrete(s) |
4 |
- |
– |
A suitable combination of discretes should be recorded. |
33 |
Selected barometric setting (each pilot station) |
As installed |
64 |
As installed |
1 mb |
Where practicable, a sampling interval of 4 seconds is recommended |
33a |
Pilot |
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33b |
Co-pilot |
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34 |
Selected altitude |
As installed |
1 |
As installed |
100 ft |
Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible. |
34a |
Manual |
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34b |
Automatic |
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35 |
Selected speed |
As installed |
1 |
As installed |
1 kt |
Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible. |
35a |
Manual |
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35b |
Automatic |
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36 |
Selected Mach |
As installed |
1 |
As installed |
0.01 |
Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible. |
36a |
Manual |
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36b |
Automatic |
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37 |
Selected vertical speed |
As installed |
1 |
As installed |
100 ft/min |
Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible. |
37a |
Manual |
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37b |
Automatic |
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38 |
Selected heading |
360 degrees |
1 |
As installed |
1 degree |
Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible. |
39 |
Selected flight path |
|
1 |
As installed |
|
Where capacity is limited, a sampling interval of 64 seconds is permissible. |
39a |
Course/DSTRK |
360 degrees |
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39b |
Path Angle |
As installed |
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40 |
Selected decision height |
0-500 ft |
64 |
As installed |
1 ft |
|
41 |
EFIS display format |
Discrete(s) |
4 |
– |
– |
Discretes should show the display system status e.g. off, normal, fail, composite, sector, plan, rose, nav aids, wxr, range, copy. |
41a |
Pilot |
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41b |
Co-pilot |
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42 |
Multifunction/Engine/ Alerts display format |
Discrete(s) |
4 |
– |
– |
Discretes should show the display system status e.g. off, normal, fail, and the identity of display pages for emergency procedures and checklists. Information in checklists and procedures need not be recorded. |