AMC2 NCC.IDE.A.165 Flight data recorder    

CAA ORS9 Decision No. 1

OPERATIONAL PERFORMANCE REQUIREMENTS FOR AEROPLANES FIRST ISSUED WITH AN INDIVIDUAL CofA ON OR AFTER 1 JANUARY 2023

(a) The operational performance requirements for flight data recorders (FDRs) should be those laid down in EUROCAE Document 112A (Minimum Operational Performance Specification for Crash Protected Airborne Recorder Systems) dated September 2013, or any later equivalent standard produced by EUROCAE.

(b) The FDR should, with reference to a timescale, record:

    (1) the list of parameters in Table 1 below;

    (2) the additional parameters listed in Table 2 below, when the information data source for the parameter is used by aeroplane systems or is available on the instrument panel for use by the flight crew to operate the aeroplane; and

    (3) any dedicated parameters related to novel or unique design or operational characteristics of the aeroplane as determined by the CAA.

(c) The parameters to be recorded should meet the performance specifications (range, sampling intervals, accuracy limits and resolution in read-out) as defined in the relevant tables of EUROCAE Document 112A, or any later equivalent standard produced by EUROCAE.

 

Table 1: FDR — All aeroplanes

No*

Parameter

1a 1b

1c

Time; or

Relative time count

Global navigation satellite system (GNSS) time synchronisation

2

Pressure altitude (including altitude values displayed on each flight crew member’s primary flight display)

3

Indicated airspeed or calibrated airspeed (including values of indicated airspeed or calibrated airspeed displayed on each flight crew member’s primary flight display)

4

Heading (primary flight crew reference) — when true or magnetic heading can be selected, the primary heading reference, a discrete indicating selection should be recorded.

5

Normal acceleration

6

Pitch attitude — pitch attitude values displayed on each flight crew member’s primary flight display should be recorded, unless the aeroplane is type certified before 1 January 2023 and recording the values displayed at the captain position or the first officer position would require extensive modification.

7

Roll attitude — roll attitude values displayed on each flight crew member’s primary flight display should be recorded, unless the aeroplane is type certified before 1 January 2023 and recording the values displayed at the captain position or the first officer position would require extensive modification.

8

Manual radio transmission keying and CVR/FDR synchronisation reference

9

Engine thrust/power:

9a

 

9b

Parameters required to determine propulsive thrust/power on each engine, in both normal and reverse thrust

Flight crew compartment thrust/power lever position (for aeroplanes with non-mechanically linked engine controls in the flight crew compartment)

14

Total or outside air temperature

16

Longitudinal acceleration (body axis)

17

Lateral acceleration

18

 

 

 

 

 

18a

18b 18c

Primary flight control surface and/or primary flight control pilot input (For aeroplanes with control systems in which the movement of a control surface will back drive the pilot’s control, ‘or’ applies. For aeroplanes with control systems in which the movement of a control surface will not back drive the pilot’s control, ‘and’ applies. For multiple or split surfaces, a suitable combination of inputs is acceptable in lieu of recording each surface separately. For aeroplanes that have a flight control break-away capability that allows either pilot to operate the controls independently, record both inputs):

 

 

Pitch axis

Roll axis

Yaw axis

19

Pitch trim surface position

23

Marker beacon passage

24

Warnings — in addition to the master warning, each ‘red’ warning that cannot be determined from other parameters or from the CVR and each smoke warning from other compartments should be recorded.

25

Each navigation receiver frequency selection

27

Air–ground status. Air–ground status and a sensor of each landing gear if installed

*    The number in the left-hand column reflects the serial number depicted in EUROCAE 112A.

 

Table 2: FDR — Aeroplanes for which the data source for the parameter is either used by the aeroplane systems or is available on the instrument panel for use by the flight crew to operate the aeroplane

No*

Parameter

10

10a

10b

Flaps:

Trailing edge flap position

Flight crew compartment control selection

11

11a

11b

Slats:

Leading edge flap (slat) position

Flight crew compartment control selection

12

Thrust reverse status

13

13a

13b

13c

13d

Ground spoiler and speed brake:

Ground spoiler position

Ground spoiler selection

Speed brake position

Speed brake selection

15

Autopilot, autothrottle and automatic flight control system (AFCS): mode and engagement status (showing which systems are engaged and which primary modes are controlling the flight path and speed of the aircraft)

20

Radio altitude. For auto-land/category III operations, each radio altimeter should be recorded.

21

 

21a

21b

Vertical deviation — the approach aid in use should be recorded. For auto-land/category III operations, each system should be recorded:

 

ILS/GPS/GLS glide path

MLS elevation

21c

Integrated approach navigation (IAN) /Integrated Area Navigation, vertical deviation

22

 

22a

22b

22c

Horizontal deviation — the approach aid in use should be recorded. For auto-land/category III operations, each system should be recorded:

 

ILS/GPS/GLS localiser

MLS azimuth

GNSS approach path/IRNAV lateral deviation

26

26a

26b

Distance measuring equipment (DME) 1 and 2 distances:

Distance to runway threshold (GLS)

Distance to missed approach point (IRNAV/IAN)

28

 

28a

28b

28c

Ground proximity warning system (GPWS)/terrain awareness warning system (TAWS)/ground collision avoidance system (GCAS) status — a suitable combination of discretes unless recorder capacity is limited in which case a single discrete for all modes is acceptable:

Selection of terrain display mode, including pop-up display status

Terrain alerts, including cautions and warnings and advisories

On/off switch position

29

Angle of attack

30

30a

30b

Low pressure warning (each system):

Hydraulic pressure

Pneumatic pressure

31

Ground speed

32

32a

32b

Landing gear:

Landing gear position

Gear selector position

33

33a

33b

33c

33d

33e

33f

Navigation data:

Drift angle

Wind speed

Wind direction

Latitude

Longitude

GNSS augmentation in use

34

34a

34b

Brakes:

Left and right brake pressure

Left and right brake pedal position

35

 

35a

35b

35c

35cd

35e

35f

35g

35h

35i

Additional engine parameters (if not already recorded in parameter 9 of Table 1, and if the aeroplane is equipped with a suitable data source):

 

Engine pressure ratio (EPR)

N1

Indicated vibration level

N2

Exhaust gas temperature (EGT)

Fuel flow

Fuel cut-off lever position

N3

Engine fuel metering valve position (or equivalent parameter from the system that directly controls the flow of fuel into the engine) — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

36

 

36a

36b

36c

Traffic alert and collision avoidance system (TCAS)/airborne collision avoidance system (ACAS) — a suitable combination of discretes should be recorded to determine the status of the system:

Combined control

Vertical control

Up advisory

36d

36e

Down advisory

Sensitivity level

37

Wind shear warning

38

38a

38b

Selected barometric setting — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically:

Pilot selected barometric setting

Co-pilot selected barometric setting

39

Selected altitude (all pilot selectable modes of operation) — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically

40

Selected speed (all pilot selectable modes of operation) — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically

41

Selected Mach (all pilot selectable modes of operation) — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically

42

Selected vertical speed (all pilot selectable modes of operation) — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically

43

Selected heading (all pilot selectable modes of operation) — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically

44

 

44a

44b

44c

Selected flight path (all pilot selectable modes of operation) — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically:

Course/desired track (DSTRK)

Path angle

Coordinates of final approach path (IRNAV/IAN)

45

Selected decision height — to be recorded for the aeroplane where the parameter is displayed electronically

46

46a

46b

Electronic flight instrument system (EFIS) display format, showing the display system status:

Pilot

Co-pilot

47

Multi-function/engine/alerts display format, showing the display system status

48

Alternating current (AC) electrical bus status — each bus

49

Direct current (DC) electrical bus status — each bus

50

Engine bleed valve(s) position

51

Auxiliary power unit (APU) bleed valve(s) position

52

Computer failure — all critical flight and engine control systems

53

Engine thrust command

54

Engine thrust target

55

Computed centre of gravity (CG)

56

Fuel quantity in CG trim tank

57

Head-up display in use

58

Paravisual display on

59

Operational stall protection, stick shaker and pusher activation

60

 

60a

60b

60c 60d 60e

60f

Primary navigation system reference:

 

GNSS

Inertial navigational system (INS)

VHF omnidirectional radio range (VOR)/distance measuring equipment (DME)

MLS

Loran C

ILS

61

Ice detection

62

Engine warning — each engine vibration

63

Engine warning — each engine over temperature

64

Engine warning — each engine oil pressure low

65

Engine warning — each engine overspeed

66

Yaw trim surface position

67

Roll trim surface position

68

Yaw or sideslip angle

69

De-icing and/or anti-icing systems selection

70

Hydraulic pressure — each system

71

Loss of cabin pressure

72

Trim control input position in the flight crew compartment, pitch — when mechanical means for control inputs are not available, displayed trim position or trim command should be recorded.

73

Trim control input position in the flight crew compartment, roll — when mechanical means for control inputs are not available, displayed trim position or trim command should be recorded.

74

Trim control input position in the flight crew compartment, yaw — when mechanical means for control inputs are not available, displayed trim position or trim command should be recorded.

75

 

75a 75b

75c

All flight control input forces (for fly-by-wire flight control systems, where control surface position is a function of the displacement of the control input device only, it is not necessary to record this parameter):

Control wheel input forces

Control column input forces

Rudder pedal input forces

76

Event marker

77

Date

78

Actual navigation performance (ANP) or estimate of position error (EPE) or estimate of position uncertainty (EPU)

79

Cabin pressure altitude — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

80

Aeroplane computed weight — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

81

81a

 

81b

81c

 

81d

Flight director command:

Left flight director pitch command — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

Left flight director roll command — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

Right flight director pitch command — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

Right flight director roll command — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

82

Vertical speed — for aeroplanes type certified before 1 January 2023, to be recorded only if this does not require extensive modification.

*    The number in the left-hand column reflects the serial number depicted in EUROCAE Document 112A.